Overview

• A memo from the Trump administration sought to cap NIH indirect costs for research grants at 15%, down from rates as high as 75%, including for already-awarded grants.
• The memo, issued without prior consultation or warning, caused confusion and panic within the NIH and the broader research community.
• A federal judge has temporarily blocked the implementation of the funding cuts, but the disruption to grant processes and research remains significant.
• Researchers fear the cuts could jeopardize critical fields like neuroscience, diabetes, autism, and bird flu studies, with some scientists considering leaving the U.S. for opportunities abroad.
• The policy is part of broader directives from the administration aimed at reshaping federal funding priorities, which critics argue undermine long-standing support for biomedical innovation.