On Feb. 12, 2025, ARCS Foundation, Inc., issues a statement that reads in part:
We believe reduction of reimbursement of key costs may put the important research of our PhD scholars at risk. More broadly, we are deeply concerned that these cuts will impact critical US scientific progress, drastically reduce the scientific competitiveness of the United States, and harm a long-standing partnership between academic institutions and the federal government. Read the complete statement
"We are concerned for our scholars at this unsettling time," ARCS Foundation President Beth Wainwright stressed. "We urge scholars who face difficulties due to Federal executive orders or funding reductions to contact their sponsoring chapters or email national@arcsfoundation.org." In response to inquiries from members wishing to express opinions, she recommends that they share their concerns as individuals with their Senators and Representatives.
Nine ARCS partner universities are among the 150 signatories on "A Call for Constructive Engagement," an open letter that opposes "unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education." The presidents of Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, and San Francisco State Universities; the Universities of Hawai‘i, Maryland, San Diego, Virginia, and Washington; and Pomona College signed the letter, along with the leaders of the Association of American Universities, American Association of Colleges and Universities, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The April 22 letter notes that U.S. institutions of higher education promote opportunity and mobility, contribute to economic and cultural vitality, foster creativity and innovation, employ and train workers, ensure America’s leadership in research, and prepare an educated citizenry to sustain our democracy. Read the full letter
The Chronicle of Higher Education examines major challenges that colleges face as the Trump administration tries to transform higher education. Sessions are scheduled April 24, and May 8. REGISTER to attend live at 1 p.m. EDT/10 a.m. PDT or receive the link for viewing later.
The Transmittor, a newsletter resource for the neuroscience community offers advice for reserachers whose federal grants are terminated in Five things to know if your federal grant is terminated.
Facilities and administrative (F&A) costs include a range of indirect expenses not directly covered by research grants—from janitorial and support staff, to utilities and computing, to workplace safety compliance and service contracts for high-end research equipment.
Watch the video or read a factsheet describing what F&A reimbursements (also known as indirect costs or overhead) are, how they are determined, and why they are important.
An association of research universities (including 42 ARCS partner institutions), affiliated medical centers, and independent research institutes, COGR is the national authority on federal policies and regulations affecting U.S. research institutions.
ARCS Foundation is a member of the council, which unites leaders from academia, business, labor, and the national labs, in a nonpartisan effort to lead the global economy, strengthen the innovation infrastructure, and raise the standard of living for all Americans.
27 ARCS partner universities are members of AAU.
27 ARCS partner universities are members of APLU.
NOTE: AAU and APLU joined with the American Council on Education in legal action contesting NIH cuts to F&A. Read more
DOWNLOAD AAAS PDFs providing talking points for expressing support for science and instructions for visiting Congressional representatives.
In February AAAS and the Royal Society released Science Diplomacy in an Era of Disruption, a science diplomacy framework addressing challenges including increased economic competition, rapid technological advancements like artificial intelligence, and the rise of non-state actors including “tech titans.”
These 77 Colleges Have the Most to Lose from Trump's Cuts
Chronicle of Higher Education, April 10, 2025 (list includes 22 ARCS partner universities)
Energy Department Cuts University Overhead Rates to 15% on Research Grants
AAAS Science, April 11, 2025
Don't Quit the Long Game
AAAS Science, April 3, 2025
Scientists sound alarm on dismantling of research funding
PBS News, March 31, 2025 (Read the letter in the New York Times)
How U.S. colleges are navigating cuts to grants for research
PBS News, March 28, 2025
The End of the Univerity as We Know It
Guest editorial, New York Times, March 16, 20205
The Authoritarian Endgame on Higher Education
New York Times opinion, March 15, 2025
Federal research instability risks postdoc careers, American leadership
STAT op ed, March 13, 2025
Johns Hopkins University Cut 2,000 Workers Funded by Federal Aid
New York Times, March 13, 2025
US Universities Reduce PhD Admissions in Response to Federal Funding Cuts
The Scientist, Feb. 27, 2025
"Every study … has found that a dollar put into university research and science has a payoff of multiple dollars over time in social benefits,” says economist and Stanford University President Jonathan Levin. Read more
The Alumni Association’s UW Impacdt! legislative advocacy program offers alerts on key issues and ways to advocate for funding and policies that support discovery. Learn more
UH is 52nd on the Chronicle of Higher Education's list of institutions with greatest exposure from new federal policies, President Wendy Hensel said in her April 17 report to the Board of Regents. Federal actions have resulted in 48 programs being terminated, paused, or phased out, affecting 82 employees and $36 million in grants, she reported in an April 21 public forum. UH launched a Federal Policies and Updates page and Graduate Student Success Fund for adversely affected students.
"We're talking about an absolutely massive budgetary challenge," Provost T. Riley-Tillman advised the WSU Board of Regents in a Feb. 17 report on federal executive orders and proposed NIH funding cuts.
"We are watching America cede its supremacy in biomedical science, and we may never regain our position," writes Professor Jordan Green in the Research Saves Lives project.
The Federal Updates webpage includes a message from President Micheal Drake and link to an Executive Order tracker.