A BU project, supported by the NSF, used an autonomous robot to test energy absorption and could lead to better car bumpers and Army helmets.

University News

BU Backs Lawsuit to Halt National Science Foundation Funding Cuts

University says sharp drop in funding could endanger “critical and cutting-edge research vital to our nation’s security” and that “often yields benefits for American businesses”

Having previously voiced opposition to funding cuts ordered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Energy (DOE), Boston University has submitted a legal declaration in support of a lawsuit that seeks to halt a push by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to slash critical research funding.

Established by Congress in 1950, the NSF is a major funder of science and engineering research. Recent NSF grants to BU have helped drive projects that have led to a new global infectious diseases monitoring system, an algorithm that boosts the effectiveness of hearing aids, and support for researchers exploring new vaccines and a potential cure for heart attacks—all of which are examples of the kinds of research that affect the everyday lives of ordinary citizens and could be severely impacted by an NSF funding reduction.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday by the Association of American Universities (AAU), of which BU is a member, came in response to a May 2 NSF policy notice drastically cutting the payments that partially reimburse institutions for hosting research studies. 

The AAU filed the legal challenge—which calls the NSF policy notice an “unlawful and destructive decision”—along with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the American Council on Education, and 13 impacted research universities. The policy notice said the NSF would cap the rate it pays for facilities and administrative (F&A) costs at 15 percent for new funding opportunities, a dramatic reduction in the amount the agency provides to help institutions cover expenses critical to research, including for the maintenance of facilities and core equipment and complying with legal reporting requirements.

In BU’s declaration, Thomas Bifano, the University’s vice president and associate provost ad interim for research, said BU received $36 million in funding from the NSF in fiscal year 2024; the rate reduction would mean BU’s five-year average recovery for facilities and administrative costs falling by approximately $8.7 million on new proposals.

“This reduction would have a significant impact on Boston University’s ability to conduct research,” Bifano said in the declaration. “BU’s research relies on the maintenance of specialized equipment and facilities. Boston University’s researchers also rely on support from a number of different BU departments to safely, ethically, and effectively conduct their research.… Without the appropriate funding for these functions, BU’s research activities will be impacted.”

The NSF is also a key backer of BU’s efforts to train new scientists and accelerate the impact of emerging researchers, funding programs providing opportunities to students pursuing potential careers in biomedical engineering and neurophotonics.

“Besides its destructive impact on research and training, this latest effort violates longstanding federal laws and regulations that govern grantmaking,” the AAU said in a statement. “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.”

It’s not the first time this year that higher education groups and leaders across the country—including at BU—have opposed similar funding cut proposals. In February, BU said it strongly supported a lawsuit that sought to halt an NIH effort to cut funding. The agency’s move was blocked by the courts, leaving current funding agreements in place. In April, the University submitted a strongly worded supporting statement in federal court with a lawsuit that aimed to block a DOE cap on funding. The DOE policy shift was also paused by the courts. In those cases, the agencies had sought to apply the spending caps retroactively; the NSF policy change only applies to future awards. 

And, more recently, in late April, BU President Melissa Gilliam joined with hundreds of other college and university leaders in signing a statement by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) calling for “constructive engagement” on research funding. “American institutions of higher learning are essential to American prosperity and serve as productive partners with government in promoting the common good,” the AAC&U letter said. “Colleges and universities are engines of opportunity and mobility.”

President Trump’s administration has been seeking to drastically cut government spending on a wide range of research conducted by higher education institutions; in a recent budget request, he proposed cutting the NIH’s budget by $18 billion and the NSF’s budget by more than half.

The NSF directive comes as a new nationwide poll of US adults shows Americans rely deeply on federal science information and data throughout their daily lives—but most don’t realize it. The poll, conducted by the Association of Science and Technology Centers, found that 90 percent of people use job market research, reports on inflation and costs, food safety warnings, and weather forecasts, all of which require science and research funding. But only 10 percent of people expressed concern about how cuts to federal funding could hamper those services.

In the University’s declaration in support of the latest lawsuit, Bifano emphasized how NSF funding has helped BU researchers have a positive impact on the nation.

“The funding Boston University receives from NSF supports critical and cutting-edge research vital to our nation’s security,” he said, “and often yields benefits for American businesses.”