Statement of AAU, ACE, and APLU Regarding their Legal Challenge to the National Science Foundation’s Cut to Critical Research That Strengthens America
May 05, 2025

​Today, the Association of American Universities, the American Council on Education, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities filed a joint lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts along with 13 research universities that are negatively affected by the latest effort from the administration to slash funding for crucial research that helps build a stronger America.

The suit seeks to halt an attempt by the National Science Foundation (NSF), announced on Friday, May 2, to cut the rate at which it reimburses institutions of higher education for what are known as Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs, also known as indirect costs. These reimbursements help cover the real and necessary costs associated with performing groundbreaking research on behalf of the American people.

Besides its destructive impact on research and training, this latest effort violates longstanding federal laws and regulations that govern grantmaking. We are seeking to prevent implementation of this poorly conceived and short-sighted policy, which will only hurt the American people and weaken the country. We look forward to making our case.

NSF has, for decades, been one of the world’s most successful research engines – and a cut to F&A is a cut to the research that helps fuel American security, global competitiveness, and prosperity.

Media Contact
Jon Riskind
Telephone:(202) 939-9453
​Complaint to the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts ​read (PDF)

​Higher Education Association Lawsuits Challenge NIH, DOE, NSF Cuts to F&A Reimbursement Updates and resources