Judge allows Trump to cut more than $1 billion in National Science Foundation grants | Trump administration

this Trump administration After the judge refused to approve a coalition of organizations representing thousands of scientists, the National Science Foundation (NSF) refused to approve a preliminary injunction, so more than 1,600 research grants issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF) worth more than $1 billion can be continued and cleared.

The NSF was a prime minister investor in basic and cutting-edge science and engineering until Trump’s second term received bipartisan support, and the agency’s independent review process was seen as the gold standard globally.

Shortly after the president’s inauguration, the so-called “Doge” led by billionaire Trump’s donor Elon Musk was granted free rule to overhaul the NSF in order to comply with what the administration calls “changes in priorities.”

The door waving Broad and confusion cuts for NSF employeesProgram and Research Grants – In particular, for compliance with congressional authorized grants to improve participation of women, people of color and people with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Congress strives to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in science and engineering (DEI) to cultivate and attract untapped talents from marginalized communities to promote U.S. innovation, economy, and defense.

The legal challenge seeking to prevent NSF grant termination is Filed in June A group consisting of the American Association of Physics Faculty, the American College and University Association, women in the Engineering Active Network, and United Auto Workers, the group represents graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty and university staff working on campus.

These organizations believe that the sudden changes in NSF policy and mass termination are arbitrary and capricious, violating the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), separation of powers and due process.

On Wednesday night, District Court of Columbia Rule Oppose scientists, refuse to stop layoffs, and the case takes place through the court.

“The court held that it may lack jurisdiction over the plaintiff’s retrospective APA claims… [and] The court ruled that the plaintiff failed to show irreparable harm from the irreparable APA claim and did not show the possibility of success in the merits of its constitutional claim. ”The court ruled.

“Although we are deeply disappointed with the decision of the court to allow the decision to terminate the grant, we argued in our merits that we were both united and committed to ultimately winning the case and protecting these important NSF grants,” the alliance said in a statement.

“The Trump Carnival Executive took illegal action when it terminated these key grants. It attempted to usurp Congressional authority by eliminating funds required by law. The case is not over yet and we are eager to defend the important role the NSF plays in the daily lives of Americans.”

Since its creation 75 years ago, NSF has made significant breakthroughs in organ transplants, genetic technology, AI, smartphones and the Internet, extreme weather and other hazard warning systems, American sign language and cybersecurity.

So far, nearly 2,000 taxpayer-funded research grants have been authorized, abandoned midway, with 420 of them recovered. Grant WitnessUnder Trump’s leadership, the nonprofit tracker for federal science and health research grants was cancelled.