華府長期指控孔子學院是中國的宣傳工具，美國戰爭部長赫格塞斯（Pete Hegseth）週五表示，戰爭部已將大學校園內由中國資助、稱為孔子學院（Confucius Institutes）的文化中心，列為對美國國家安全的威脅。赫格塞斯也稱，戰爭部在過去兩個月來已「系統性地瓦解這每一個組織」。
赫格塞斯於23日表示，由中國資助的文化中心「孔子學院」，以偽裝的形式在美國大學中運作，有30所大學出現80個新的宣傳組織，這些組織使用不同名稱、不同章程，但使命卻如出一轍：竊取智慧財產，並滲透美國學生的思想。
赫格塞斯強調，五角大廈已將其列入威脅美國國家安全的機構名單中，並稱戰爭部在過去兩個月來已「系統性地瓦解這每一個組織」。赫格塞斯也直言，「到此為止，絕不允許再有下一次」。
《路透社》報導指出，中國駐華盛頓大使館未回覆置評請求。
保守派媒體人道格納蒂（Eric Daugherty）也在X發文轉貼赫格塞斯的相關發言，並直言幹得漂亮！
The War Department has designated Confucius Institutes as a threat to our national security. https://t.co/bvMTUBwGei
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth （@SecWar）
October 23, 2026
???? JUST IN: SecWar Hegseth announces the Pentagon designated CCP-linked Confucius Institutes as NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS and has now officially WIPED OUT 80 disguised Chinese propaganda cells hiding inside 30 American universities
BIG WIN! ????????
"These Chinese government-backed propaganda cultural programs had infiltrated our nation's universities in almost every state... they came back disguised in new forms, just like DEI does."
"80 new propaganda cells across 30 universities had popped up using different names and different charters, but with the same mission: to steal intellectual property and to infiltrate the minds of American students."
Now the War Department has labeled them a national security threat and dismantled every one in the last two months.
"No more, and never again."
BOOM.
— Eric Daugherty （@EricLDaugh）
October 23, 2026