Associations Blast Trump Administration’s Roadblocks to Research

The level of frustration out there continues to grow. Case in point: three associations supporting federally funded university research recently sent a joint letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and Michael Kratsios, assistant to the president for science and technology at the Office of Science and Technology Policy criticizing “the unprecedented and unnecessary disruption and confusion” caused by many actions stemming from Trump administration executive orders.

“Agencies’ failure to follow the notice and procedural requirements of their awards and governing regulations will result in long-term negative impacts on America’s research enterprise,” according to the letter signed by the presidents of the American Association of Universities, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and the Council of Governmental Relations. “We urge you to consider our recommendations that aim to promote good stewardship of the funds Congress appropriated to research activities that are vital to our nation’s security, health and economic competitiveness.”

Noting that scientific research is “vital to our national interests,” the associations said the executive actions would have “significant negative repercussions” such as:

• disruptions in cash flow caused by cancellation of payments and closing payment request systems, which cause particular harm to individuals receiving stipends directly from the federal government, including some postdoctoral fellows;
• requirements for grantee certification of compliance with Executive Order 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, which provided no definition or concrete guidance as to which diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities are prohibited under applicable laws;
• abrupt unilateral directives, including stop work orders and terminations of projects with the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development due to no fault of the grantees/contractors, as well as projects related to gender-related research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other stop-work orders at the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, Department of Energy, the Department of Interior and other agencies; and
• NIH’s elimination of one-time authority for no-cost extensions.

The associations urged the administration to take actions consistent with the rescission of OMB Memorandum M-25-13 and recent temporary restraining orders issued by U.S. District Courts, such as:

• reopen the lines of communication that are vital between the research community and agency officials;
• provide assurance that there will be no further pause on payments for research activities under existing awards that are not specifically permitted under grant terms and conditions and applicable regulations;
• issue clear guidance about new submissions;
• refrain from penalizing research proposals already submitted under the specifications stated in research solicitations issued prior to recent changes in priorities;
• issue clear and transparent communications on programs allegedly implicated by executive orders;
• honor agency contractual obligations and the terms and conditions of awards until otherwise modified in accordance with applicable law; and
• communicate with award recipients through direct award specific notifications and amendments.

The associations also expressed concern about the recently imposed NIH policy to cap facilities and administrative (F&A) costs reimbursement at 15%, stating that this “would cripple health research and slow the pace of life-enhancing and life-saving treatments and cures.”

“We strongly urge that other federal agencies refrain from imposing such harmful policies,” the associations explained. “Our members will continue to honor the terms and conditions of federal grants and contracts, and we urge that the federal government reciprocate.”

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