The federal government has a strong interest in carefully selecting recipients of grant funds (often large sums) and in controlling the purposes and uses of tho

The federal government has a strong interest in carefully selecting recipients of grant funds (often large sums) and in controlling the purposes and uses of those funds. As a condition of receiving funds, the government may naturally wish to confirm that recipients will not be using the funds in ways that benefit other state actors, in conflict with the government's policies. Officially misrepresenting that state of affairs to the government with so much on the line is what's illegal, not "sending an email to someone in China."