[Ucrfacultyandstaff] UC Riverside Washington Report

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UC Riverside Washington Report
Friday, April 18, 2025

On April 11, the U.S. Department of Energy announced it will cap facilities and administrative, or F&A, costs related to its university research grants at 15%, effectively cutting its F&A funding in half. This is a similar measure to the proposed cap to NIH F&A funds, a move a federal judge has ruled against. A federal judge has subsequently issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Energy. The ruling was in response to a suit filed by multiple plaintiffs, including advocacy organizations of which the University of California is a member.

The National Science Foundation, or NSF, on April 18 made an announcement impacting new and active research grants. UCR has started to receive cancellation notices following the change in priorities. The NSF announced changes with a posting on its website titled “Update on NSF Priorities<https://www.nsf.gov/updates-on-priorities>.” For related questions or if notified of a cancellation contact redalert at ucr.edu<mailto:redalert at ucr.edu>.

Also this week, the federal government froze $2.2 billion in Harvard University grants after the university said it will not consent to the government’s executive order demanding, among other things, reforms to admissions and hiring and an end to DEI initiatives. The presidential administration has also threatened to withdraw Harvard’s tax-exempt status.

UCR updates

  *   A May 2 virtual Town Hall <https://ucr.zoom.us/meeting/register/BfZu6JzRQTyN3bBXVwJKRw#/registration> hosted by UC Riverside International Affairs will provide a forum in which to discuss the issues facing international students and scholars.
  *   UCR’s recently launched Research Impact site<https://researchimpact.ucr.edu/> spotlights the world-changing campus research that results from federal investment. The NIH-funded research profiled includes work addressing Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury, and IBD.

Partners

  *   The Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities, or APLU, of which UCR is a member, explains its decision<http://pages.aplu.org/index.php/email/emailWebview?email=NjAzLVVSVy0xMjcAAAGZ6SwwIrA6eLyTRPtzQpVi4FXKb4u6FJiMdo9BJCyGLLYOvjWcEXeyo-gl6TZUvTs9N9Nbmq5hiuzFMkBdPN5J2k1-D6-Hg4hoqQ> to join a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s cuts to Department of Energy F&A funding. “The DOE action represents an immediate and dire threat to research nationwide,” the APLU explains in its letter. The Association of American Universities, or AAU, of which UCR is also a member, also joined the suit. In this update<https://www.aau.edu/resources-aau-ace-aplu-legal-action-contesting-doe-cuts-fa-reimbursement-rates>, the AAU explains the April 16 ruling that stops implementation of the cuts.
  *   The AAU has joined 14 other higher education associations seeking clarity regarding the federal government’s widespread revocation of student visas. In a letter<https://www.aau.edu/key-issues/aau-associations-seek-clarity-dhsstate-about-international-student-visa-revocations> to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, AAU President Ted Mitchell requests a briefing.

UC updates

  *   The UC Office of the President explains how it is helping students<https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/federal-updates/weekly-federal-update-brief> whose visas have been revoked by the federal government. Also, UCOP explains its challenge to the Department of Energy’s cuts to F&A funds and reacts to the federal inquiry of Harvard University.

  *   Become part<https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/get-involved/advocate/medical-research?p2asource=nihresearch-ucr4> of a UC-led effort to persuade Congress to oppose proposed administration cuts to NIH funding that would greatly hinder UC health research.
Resources

  *   UC federal updates microsite<https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/federal-updates>
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