22 States Sue Trump Administration Over Drastic NIH Funding Cuts

The Trump administration announced a policy to cap NIH indirect cost reimbursements at 15%, down from an average of around 28%1 3.

This cut is expected to save the government $4 billion annually but could significantly impact research institutions1 3.

A coalition of 22 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block the implementation of this policy1 2 3.

The lawsuit argues that the cuts violate the Administrative Procedure Act and existing legislation preventing NIH from deviating from negotiated indirect cost rates1 3.

Universities and research institutions claim the cuts will have devastating effects, potentially leading to program closures, layoffs, and disruptions to ongoing research3 6.

Indirect costs cover essential expenses such as facility maintenance, utilities, administrative support, and compliance with regulations2 3.

A federal judge has temporarily halted the implementation of the policy in response to the lawsuit5 8.

The cuts would affect institutions across the country, with some universities standing to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in funding9.

This is not the first attempt by the Trump administration to cut indirect costs; a similar proposal in 2017 was rejected by Congress8.

The scientific community and higher education leaders have widely criticized the move, arguing it will harm medical research progress and economic activity3 4.