June 7, 2016, the Ministry of Education of China under Xi Jinping nullified the two projects by invalidating the fundamental documents "Measures for the Implementation and Management of Project 211 Construction" and "Opinions on the Continued Implementation of Project 985 Construction Projects."

On June 27, 2016, the Ministry of Education said in response to The Beijing News reporters' questions that the two projects faced the issues such as lack of competition,