WASHINGTON — A federal judge temporarily halted changes by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to cut the Facilities and Administrative costs universities and medical schools pay. This decision comes after 22 states filed a lawsuit, challenging the NIH’s policy change. The ruling, issued by Judge Angel Kelley, will remain effective until further notice, with an in-person hearing set for February 21.
Research institutions worry the NIH’s plan to cap indirect costs at 15% could hinder critical research efforts. The NIH announced the cap to align with spending by private organizations. This policy has faced criticism from prominent academic and political figures, including U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, who called it “arbitrary cuts” affecting Maine institutions.
NIH provides competitive grants to thousands of researchers nationwide, with indirect costs covering essential lab operations and infrastructure. The Association of American Medical Colleges warned that the cap would significantly slow scientific progress. These costs support lab maintenance, security, data processing, and compliance with federal regulations.
Concerns extend to the U.S.’s role as a leader in innovation, with the NIH’s move seen as a retreat from commitments to research. The Association of Public and Land Grant Universities stated that cuts could slow advancements in treating chronic diseases. The Association of American Universities emphasized that indirect costs are vital for groundbreaking research.
In Maine, the University of Maine System reported potential funding losses impacting ongoing research. NIH’s reduction in indirect cost rates could lead to over $7 million in lost support for Maine’s research programs. Critics argue this change violates legal provisions, as evidenced by language in the NIH’s funding bill prohibiting such modifications.
Democratic leaders in Congress criticized the NIH policy as potentially catastrophic, threatening ongoing research and clinical trials nationwide. The lawsuit filed by attorneys general from 22 states argues the policy disrupts research programs, leading to layoffs and lab closures.
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