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Did the Biden administration end the China Initiative anti-espionage program?

By Tom Kertscher
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YES

Matthew Olsen, the U.S. Justice Department’s top national security official, announced Feb. 23, 2022, the end of the department's China Initiative.

The Biden administration's decision ended an initiative announced during President Trump’s administration by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions “to combat Chinese economic espionage.” Sessions said prosecutions would focus on Chinese espionage against U.S. defense and intelligence agencies, and targets such as research universities.

Olsen said he ended the initiative because it “fueled a narrative of intolerance and bias. To many, that narrative suggests that the Justice Department treats people from China or of Chinese descent differently.”

Instead, he said, the Justice Department would take a broader approach that is “threat driven,” even though China stands out for the espionage threats it poses to the U.S. He noted threats from Russia, Iran and North Korea.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., made the China initiative claim in a March 14, 2024, interview.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
USC US-China Institute Matthew Olsen, Countering Nation-State Threats, February 23, 2022
U.S. Justice Department Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces New Initiative to Combat Chinese Economic Espionage
CNN Justice Department ends Trump-era China Initiative following bias concerns
Reuters U.S. Justice Department to end Trump-era program targeting threats posed by China
The Hill Democrats warn against potential reactivation of Trump-era China Initiative
The First The Issues Plaguing America
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.