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 […]
Announcements
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 […]
Important Update on National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Funding
Earlier today, NIH leadership issued a memo authorizing staff to resume issuing new and continuing grants under current funding policies, including previously approved negotiated indirect cost rates, effective until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
No-Cost Extensions on NIH Awards (Restored)
The ERA Commons functionality for submitting a first-time No-Cost Extension (NCE) on National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards—allowing USC to extend the project period by up to 90 days before the end date without sponsor prior approval—has been restored and is now fully operational. This feature was previously suspended but is now available. Principal Investigators […]