House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) outlined an ambitious agenda on Thursday, detailing his panel’s upcoming investigations into foreign funding of U.S. universities, the government’s handling of Havana Syndrome, and fraudulent government payments.
Comer emphasized that the committee’s efforts will be bolstered by key Trump administration appointees, including FBI Director Kash Patel, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Elon Musk, who now leads the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In an interview with Just the News, Comer highlighted the committee’s focus on accountability and transparency, vowing to expose waste, foreign influence, and bureaucratic failures. “We’re going to hold government agencies accountable,” Comer said. “With the help of new leadership in key positions, we’re going to shine a light on issues that have been ignored for far too long.”
Foreign Funding of U.S. Universities
One of the committee’s top priorities is investigating foreign financial contributions to American universities, particularly from China. Comer pointed to the University of Pennsylvania, where President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were affiliated during the Trump administration.
“[When] you look at Joe Biden, Anthony Blinken, the number one and three guys in our government for the past four years, during the four years of the Trump administration, when they weren’t in power, they were working for the University of Pennsylvania,” Comer said. He alleged that a “huge percentage” of the university’s budget came from anonymous sources in China, raising concerns about foreign influence in higher education.
“What I learned in the Biden administration—anonymous sources usually means the government of China,” Comer added. He noted that the University of Pennsylvania is just one of many institutions receiving significant funding from China, and the committee will investigate whether these contributions are being used to promote ideological influence.
The Oversight Committee has already found that many universities failed to file required foreign funding disclosures with the Department of Education since 2020. Comer vowed to identify the “worst offenders” and demand transparency about the sources of these contributions.
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Havana Syndrome: A Call for Transparency
The committee is also focusing on the government’s handling of Havana Syndrome, a mysterious illness first reported by U.S. diplomats in Cuba nearly a decade ago. Symptoms have included cognitive impairment, dizziness, insomnia, and severe headaches. While the cause remains unclear, some researchers suggest it could be linked to “radio frequency energy or focused ultrasound.”
Comer accused the government of withholding critical information about the incidents. “[This] is a real thing that I believe the government’s not been truthful [about], not just with the American people, but with the people affected by Havana Syndrome,” he said.
He suggested that the syndrome may have been a retaliatory action by Cuba in response to changes in U.S.-Cuban relations. “The government’s known a lot more about this than what they’ve been transparent with the American people,” Comer added.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Comer announced an investigation into how the Biden-Harris administration handled the issue and why victims did not receive adequate medical care. A Senate Intelligence Committee report from December 2024 found that the CIA failed to ensure proper treatment for those affected.
Comer also outlined the committee’s efforts to identify improper government payments and fraudulent spending. Elon Musk, who now leads the DOGE initiative, is assisting in uncovering waste across multiple agencies.
“I don’t think we’ve even scraped the surface yet,” Comer said. “The biggest problem—and this is where Elon Musk comes in—is improper payments in every government agency.” He cited examples including unemployment offices, Social Security, the Small Business Administration, and federal grant programs.
Comer attributed the issue to outdated software systems and bureaucratic inefficiencies. “I think people are going to be disgusted when they find out how much of our tax dollars have been wasted to fraud by overseas entities,” he said.
To address the problem, Comer appointed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to lead a special DOGE subcommittee under the Oversight Committee. The subcommittee held its first hearing earlier this month, focusing on improper Medicaid and Medicare payments.
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With multiple investigations now underway, the House Oversight Committee is set to continue its push for transparency and accountability in government spending, foreign funding, and national security concerns. Comer’s efforts reflect a broader Republican agenda to root out waste, expose foreign influence, and ensure that government agencies serve the American people effectively.
As the investigations progress, Comer remains confident that the committee’s work will lead to meaningful reforms. “We’re just getting started,” he said. “The American people deserve answers, and we’re going to deliver them.”
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