President Trump’s recent executive order introduces measures aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in federal spending, particularly concerning research awards. The key points impacting research funding are: Centralized Payment Justification System: Agencies are required to establish a system that records every payment made under federal contracts and grants, accompanied by a brief written justification from the […]
Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Against OMB Funding Freeze
Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Against OMB Funding Freeze On February 26, the D.C. District Court issued a Preliminary Injunction in National Council of Nonprofits v. OMB, extending the previous Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Administration’s funding freeze. The court rejected OMB’s argument that the case is moot, noting that disbursements only resumed after the […]
Important Legal Update on Recent Executive Orders
On Friday, February 21, the Maryland District Court issued a preliminary injunction in Nat’l Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump, temporarily blocking certain provisions of two recent executive orders: Executive Order 14151 (Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, Jan. 20, 2025) Executive Order 14173 (Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring […]
Update – Lawsuit Against NIH F&A Cap
A federal judge has extended the temporary block on the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) plan to reduce F&A payments to universities to 15%. Judge Angel Kelley’s decision will keep the restraining order in place until a final ruling is made. The initial order followed a lawsuit from 22 state attorneys general, with the block later […]
NSF’s Implementation of Executive Orders
In reviewing the recently released website discussing NSF’s implementation of the Executive Orders, here are some key takeaways that NSF researchers should be aware of: Panels and Proposal Submissions No changes to NSF merit review criteria – Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts remain the standard. Review panels are ongoing – Some postponed panels are being rescheduled. Proposal submission […]
New NSF Webpage Regarding Recent Executive Orders
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has introduced a new webpage to keep the research community informed about recent executive orders and how they are being implemented by NSF. Last updated on February 15, 2025, this resource provides guidance on the impact of these directives on NSF-funded projects and operations. Notably, it includes a comprehensive FAQ addressing […]