DURHAM — University of New Hampshire President Elizabeth Chilton is sounding the alarm about federal cuts to scientific research funding, warning of future layoffs, project stoppages and laboratory closures at the state’s flagship school.
The National Science Foundation, under the Trump administration’s direction, capped U.S. colleges and universities’ indirect research costs at 15% effective May 5. Under the new guideline, the University of New Hampshire stands to lose an estimated $17.5 million in the next five years, according to Chilton.
A federal lawsuit was filed May 5 in Massachusetts against National Science Foundation acting director Brian Stone by several of the country’s top colleges, Brown University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University among them. The complaint was additionally co-filed by the Association of American Universities, the American Council on Education and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
The University of New Hampshire is not a party in the lawsuit. However, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities — an organization to which the University of New Hampshire belongs — called on Chilton to share how the National Science Foundation’s decision would affect the school.
Chilton expressed worry the research reimbursement cap will have an impact extending far outside New Hampshire.
“The University of New Hampshire cannot ‘float’ all of the indirect costs it would likely lose coverage for – nor could it float (National Science Foundation) grants altogether” if funding is capped at 15%, Chilton wrote in part. “Thus, some research projects would need to be terminated altogether, and others would need to be scaled down or pared back significantly. The process of identifying these cuts would need to begin immediately, and layoffs, closures, and research pauses or contractions would follow soon thereafter.”
“ Cutting back on the University of New Hampshire’s research in fields such as STEM workforce development, robotics and home healthcare, in-space manufacturing, and geotectonics would also have long-term implications on national security and the American economy.”
Chilton’s testimony is being used in the plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction in the federal suit against the National Science Foundation, federal court records show.
Between fiscal years 2020 and 2024, UNH received $90.7 million in funding from the National Science Foundation, according to UNH spokesperson Tania deLuzuriaga. The school then received $22.3 million in indirect cost recovery from the National Science Foundation and expects to receive approximately $4.9 million more this fiscal year.
“The effects of a reduction in the indirect cost rate to 15% would be devastating to our research mission, our ability to recruit and train students, and to continue to contribute to society,” Chilton wrote.
UNH is leading an application for National Science Foundation funding to support a “multi-institutional” Science and Technology Center.
The pitch, which proposes a $10 million grant over a five-year period, is due June 2, but Chilton noted the proposal is now in flux because of the research indirect cost reimbursement cap.
“Collaborating partner institutions have already indicated that they are unlikely to continue the project with an immediate reduction of (indirect costs) to 15%,” she wrote. “Without our partners, we will not be able to submit this proposal, and we would stand to lose approximately $3 (million) in indirect costs over the lifetime of the grant.”
National Science Foundation grants subsidize several research programs and projects at UNH. Current federal funds support researchers’ work to study earthquake emergency preparedness in the Arctic, robotic development and programming and in-space manufacturing, according to Chilton.
Indirect cost reimbursement from the government allows the school to operate its research facilities, including the University Instrumentation Center, Chase Ocean Engineering Laboratory, Jackson Marine Estuarine Laboratory and the Olson Center for Advanced Manufacturing, she added.
“Without this critical infrastructure, we simply cannot conduct this level or type of research,” Chilton said.
Other schools outlining the impact of the National Science Foundation’s reimbursement cap alongside the University of New Hampshire include Boston University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Tufts University, the University of Vermont and Yale University.
A hearing on the motion for preliminary injunction in Massachusetts federal court is set for Friday, May 23 at 2:30 p.m.
The National Science Foundation said its policy change was enacted so less money is spent on school facilities’ depreciation, operations and maintenance and more is allotted toward research.
“This policy allows NSF and its awardees to focus more on scientific progress and less on administrative overhead by aligning with common federal benchmarks,” the National Science Foundation wrote in its announcement. “Applying a standard indirect cost rate also improves government efficiency by eliminating the need for individualized indirect cost negotiations.”
The new 15% maximum reimbursement rate is applicable to all federal research grants awarded to higher education institutions after May 5. It does not apply to grants bestowed before that date.
The possibility of federal research grant reimbursement losses comes as the University of New Hampshire plans to reduce operating expenses by $15 million to $20 million next fiscal year, setting the stage for potential layoffs and program eliminations or consolidations.
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