CAPAC Leadership Opposes Republican Efforts to Revive Failed ‘China Initiative’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House Appropriations Committee advanced a key spending bill that includes language to reinstate the “China Initiative,” a now-defunct program within the Department of Justice that purported to combat espionage but in effect targeted and profiled researchers of Chinese descent.
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) leadership issued the following statement in response:
“House Republicans are attempting to resurrect the so-called China Initiative, a discriminatory program that wrongfully targeted scientists and researchers of Chinese descent under the guise of national security.
“During President Trump’s first term, this McCarthy-esque witch hunt ruined the lives of hundreds of innocent scientists and destroyed their careers. It left a chilling effect on U.S. research institutions that stifled American innovation and weakened our global competitiveness.
“Let us be clear: Congress has a responsibility to protect our national security interests, but the China Initiative did not achieve this goal. Instead, it led to the racial profiling of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, perpetuated racist tropes of dual loyalty, and fueled division.
“CAPAC led the charge to dismantle the China Initiative once before, and we will continue to fight against any program that places a target on our communities.”
The joint statement was signed by CAPAC Chair Grace Meng (NY-06), First Vice Chair Mark Takano (CA-39), Second Vice Chair Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Whip Ami Bera (CA-06), and Chair Emerita Judy Chu (CA-28).
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Department of Justice formally launched the China Initiative during President Trump's first term, targeting hundreds of scientists and researchers based on their heritage and nationality. CAPAC previously shared the testimonies of three university professors who were wrongfully arrested and eventually cleared of their charges.
The Department of Justice formally ended the China Initiative in 2022 after several of the alleged espionage and national security cases ended in acquittal, dismissal or were dropped altogether, yet the harmful impacts of the Initiative can still be seen today. A 2025 survey reported that four in ten Americans believe Asian Americans are more loyal to their countries of origin than to the U.S.—underscoring how harmful policies fuel xenophobic attitudes and sustain the ‘perpetual foreigner’ narrative.
CAPAC previously led efforts to defeat a Republican attempt to reinstate the China Initiative in 2024. [1] [2] This week, CAPAC Chair Emerita Chu and Senator Hirono sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriators opposing any effort to reinstate the China Initiative in upcoming appropriations legislation.
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