F&A Lawsuits; Grant Terminations; Gold Standard Science
BU IN DC
Brian Walsh of the College of Engineering and fellow members of the American Geophysical Union met with Congressional offices to discuss the importance of investing in heliophysics research on June 17th.
Helen Tager-Flusberg of the College of Arts & Sciences talked with lawmakers about autism research on June 17th and June 18th.
JUDGES BLOCK NSF, DOD CUTS TO RESEARCH REIMBURSEMENT
Last week, a federal judge ruled that the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) 15% cap on reimbursements for facilities & administrative (F&A) costs is unlawful. As a result, NSF will not implement the cap. The agency indicated it would implement the cap, though, “if a subsequent court decision permits application of the policy.” A different federal judge has halted the Department of Defense’s (DOD) plan to implement a similar 15% cap, due to a lawsuit brought by the American Association of Universities and others. BU supported the NSF and DOD lawsuits. Proposed F&A caps for grants issued by the National Institutes of Health and Department of Energy are also on hold due to lawsuits.
CONGRESS QUESTIONS ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ON GRANT TERMINATIONS, RESEARCH CUTS
During hearings on Capitol Hill this week, Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle questioned the Trump Administration’s proposed budget cuts at science agencies, caps on reimbursement to colleges for facilities and administrative (F&A) costs, and grant terminations. On Wednesday, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) asked White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to work with Congress on properly reimbursing grantees for F&A costs “that are mission critical to research.” Vought replied that he had met with many university leaders to discuss the Administration’s attempt to cap F&A reimbursements to colleges and will work with Congress on a solution. Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee rebuked Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Trump Administration’s proposed cuts to the NIH budget and termination of existing NIH grants during a hearing on Tuesday.
BUZZ BITS…
- Last Friday, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a memorandum directing federal agencies to implement the President’s “Gold Standard Science” executive order by August 22nd. The memo suggests artificial intelligence can be used to support the effort with “automated tools for validating reproducible protocols, standardizing transparent data reporting, quantifying uncertainty, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration, detecting biases in peer and merit review, and managing conflict-of-interest disclosures.”
- The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on a tax package this weekend that would curtail federal lending options for graduate students and expand the endowment excise tax on certain universities. BU would not be subject to the tax. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a different version of the tax bill earlier this month; both chambers would need to reach an agreement on a final bill before it could be sent to the President.
- On Wednesday, Republicans on the House Education and the Workforce Committee approved the Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act, which would require accreditors to measure colleges on additional standards related to student outcomes, such as median price versus value-added earnings. It would also allow colleges to change accreditors without the approval of the U.S. Department of Education.
A NOTE TO OUR READERS
Due to the federal holiday, Beltway BUzz will not publish next Friday. Please check our website or the University’s federal actions page for updates.