ATLANTA — The Pentagon is calling on Emory University in the Atlanta area and more than two dozen other schools across the United States to conduct a comprehensive research security audit.

The review will examine academic, financial and research collaborations with what the Defense Department calls foreign entities of concern, according to officials.

According to officials, universities that do not report their findings by next Monday could lose future federal research funding.

“The Department of War has zero tolerance for academic partnerships that compromise our national security,” said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. “Institutions that receive funding from American taxpayers must uphold the highest standards of research security, and these mandated audits will ensure accountability across the board.”

The directive is drawing criticism from some higher education groups, who are calling it funding-based coercion.

AAUP President Todd Wolfson and AFT President Randi Weingarten said the directive places 30 universities under suspicion and raises concerns about racial and national-origin profiling, academic freedom and global scholarly collaboration.

The groups also questioned the legal authority for conditioning federal research funding on compliance with the order.

Emory University responded to WSB Radio, saying, “Emory received the department’s request and we are reviewing it.”

WSB Radio’s Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.