Judge halts NIH research funding cuts as South Carolina institutions weigh impact
The NIH announced Friday that it would put a 15% limit on indirect funding, which generally covers overhead costs like equipment, operations, maintenance, accounting, and personnel.
The agency said it spent more than $35 billion in 2023 for competitive grants at institutions nationwide, about $9 billion of which was allocated for indirect costs. The rates for this funding varied as they separately negotiated by individual recipients.
Attorneys general in 22 states quickly sued to block the order, arguing it would 'devastate critical public health research' and halt 'cutting-edge work to cure and treat human disease.'
'This agency action will result in layoffs, suspension of clinical trials, disruption of ongoing research programs, and laboratory closure,' they wrote.
Judge tells agencies to restore webpages and data removed after Trump's executive order
A separate lawsuit was also filed by the Association of American Medical Colleges on behalf of dozens of medical schools, teaching hospital and health systems, and academic societies.
Hours later on Monday, Massachusettts Judge Angel Kelley granted a temporary restraining order, barring the NIH from implementing the policy change nationwide until further notice.
Democratic leaders celebrated that ruling in Tuesday as they discussed several Trump administration actions that have been blocked in court.
'The Trump administration has engaged in a number of brazenly undemocratic and illegal actions and their losing in court,' said Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Calif.). 'A judge halted the attempted cuts to NIH that would have affected cancer research.'
Another court hearing is set for February 21.
Multiple institutions in South Carolina receive indirect funding from the NIH to fund research in various academic areas. This includes the state's two largest colleges — The University of South Carolina (UofSC) and Clemson University — and the Medical University of South Carolina.
According to NIH data, MUSC recieved more than $128 million for research in 2024. Clemson was awarded about $25.2 million and UofSC recieved $70.3 million.
In separate statements provided to News 2, representatives from MUSC and Clemson said they were working to determine the impact of the proposed cuts and communicating with congressional leaders on the issue.
'At this time, all funded research activities and proposal submissions, including those with the NIH, should continue per standard business procedures without interruptons,' Clemson leaders wrote in a Feb. 9 message to faculty and staff.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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