Universities are continuing to financing the research of the energy department

A group of universities – including the Brown University and the Massachusetts technology institute – and education groups put legal action on Tuesday to stop the energy of the energy department with federal research subsidies.

Last week, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a new policy aimed at reducing the financing of “indirect costs” by Research grants 15%.

However, the complainants argue that such reductions “will devastate scientific research in American universities” and “undermine” the status of the country as a world leader in innovation.

“The rhythm of scientific discoveries in the national interest will be slowed down,” said the trial. “The progress of a safe and effective nuclear deterrence, new sources of energy and healing for debilitating and fatal diseases will be obstructed.

The prosecution deposited Massachusetts on Monday before the US District District Court said that the change in policy is illegal and violates the law on administrative procedure. He is looking for an injunction.

The other complainants include Cornell University, the University of Illinois, the University of Michigan, the Michigan State University, the Princeton University, the University of Rochester, the Association of American Universities, the American Education Council and the Association of Public Universities and Foncières Accessions.

This same court has published a permanent injunction Earlier this year against a similar Trump administration Research funding reduced to the National Institutes of Health.

The energy department provides more than $ 3.5 billion per year thanks to grant programs to more than 300 colleges and universities to support research punishable by the department, the agency said in a press release.

Part of this goes to “direct costs”, such as specific projects, and others to “indirect costs”, which are not attributable to a specific project, such as installations and administration.

The complaint said that indirect costs are essential to scientific work, including specialized nuclear installations, IT systems to analyze enormous volumes of data, researchers and administrative staff.

Indirect costs rates for subsidies follow the regulations set out by the Executive Management and Budget Budget (OMB) and are negotiated by federal offices – each beneficiary to meet their situation and needs. The complaint argues that the Trump Administration Ceiling Ceiling Policy violates these regulations and that indirect cost rates should not be a “one -sized” policy.

Meanwhile, the DOE arises that the new policy will generate more than $ 405 million in annual savings.

“The objective of funding from the Ministry of the Energy Department to Colleges and Universities is to support scientific research – not the invoice for administrative costs and upgrades of facilities,” said US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

The complaint said that the effects of politics “will be immediate and devastating”.

“Because universities cannot support programs funded by DoE at the indirect cost rate of 15% that the CEE will now inflict a myriad of critical projects – often the product of years or decades of effort – are in danger of being stopped on their traces. These include the development of advanced nuclear war and cybersecurity keep lights lit in rural communities, said the complaint.

The complaint said it would also lead to a reduction in endowment and training programs, damage careers and have an impact on the next generation of scientists.

Under the Cups, Brown University would lose more than $ 2 million a year in its planned research budget, Caltech would lose nearly $ 6 million and Cornell University would undergo “a deficit of around $ 8 million in a typical exercise”.

The MIT received $ 93 million from the DOE during the year 2024 for sponsored research. This year, if the DOE reduces indirect cost rates to 15%, “then the MIT provides, it will lose around $ 15 million to $ 16 million in cost reimbursement which supports the search for the DOE in the next 12 months,” said the complaint.

The complaint alleges that the cuts violate several aspects of the law on administrative procedure and asks the court to conclude the policy of invalid rate ceiling and to order an injunction.

NBC News contacted the DOE to comment. The costume also names Doe's secretary, Chris Wright, as a defendant.

The American Council on Education said in a statement that administration cuts “would have an immediate and disastrous impact on critical energy, physical sciences and genius research at the national level”.

The group has argued that reduced funding would weaken America's economic opportunities, the labor pipeline and families' prosperity.

“It would simply be a self-inflicted injury and a gift to competitors and potential opponents such as China,” said the group.

“We will continue to take the necessary measures to protect the essential funding that supports Brown research and the need for our country of innovative solutions to critical problems,” said Brown University, Christina H. Paxson.

The president of MIT, Sally Kornbluth, said in a statement that the DOE grants the work of nearly 1,000 members of the school community.

Meanwhile, Cornell officials said: “The arbitrarily reduction in indirect costs will cause irreparable damage to Cornell's research company, paralyzes the progress of projects of national importance and threatens the formation of the next generation of energy scientists.”