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Politico
5 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Universities want a deal in research funding battle with Trump
Major research institutions command some of the highest rates in part because they have expensive and state-of-the-art research equipment and are located in areas with high utilities costs. A federal district court judge in Boston blocked Trump's plan to cap the fees at 15 percent in March. The national average now is almost 30 percent. The case is now on appeal. In the meantime, GOP senators such as Appropriations Chair Susan Collins of Maine and Alabama's Katie Britt have protested the administration's plan because it would hurt the public universities in their states. Collins noted that Congress has explicitly barred the administration from tinkering with the indirect cost system in spending legislation. But even as schools were seeking relief in court and in Congress, a cadre of groups that lobby for them, including the Association of American Universities, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Association of Independent Research Institutes and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, was working out a compromise plan to offer Trump. Others in the crosshairs of Trump's bid to cut costs, such as hospitals and research institutes, are working with them. 'Those who say, 'Well, let's just wait and see, maybe the lawsuits will be fine.' No, there is change happening,' said Droegemeier, who has some cache in Trump's orbit because he led the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy during the president's first term. 'I can tell you for sure that [the White House Office of Management and Budget] is working on things. We're working on things. We're working together. But change is coming, and if people simply deny that they're fooling themselves — they'd better prepare for change one way or another.' This week, Trump tried a new tactic to wrest indirect funding from top-tier universities by issuing an executive order calling for agencies to give preference to universities with lower indirect costs when issuing awards. The university-led group announced this spring that it was working on a new model , one that was 'simple and easily explained,' and in a nod to the administration's priorities: 'efficient and transparent.' The Financial Accountability in Research, or FAIR plan, would consist of two options for research organizations to recoup facilities and administrative expenses from the government. The first, a detailed accounting of indirect project costs, and the second, a shorter, simpler fixed percentage of a project's budget. (Think itemized deductions vs. the standard deduction on federal taxes.) 'The biggest difference is rather than having an indirect cost rate, which is negotiated across the entire university, this model calls for indirect costs to be estimated for every project,' Jeremy Berg, former director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, an arm of the $48 billion grant-giving National Institutes of Health, told POLITICO. A lobbying push Debate over how much the government should pay for indirect costs has raged for decades. Both former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama suggested capping facilities and administrative costs, to no avail. In Trump's first term, he proposed a 10 percent cap on indirect costs — meaning a $100 grant would come with a maximum of an additional $10 for administration and facilities. Lawmakers stopped him by adding language to appropriations bills barring the change. After the Trump administration announced the 15 percent cap in February, Droegemeier reached out to House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) to see if universities and Congress could work together on a compromise.
Boston Globe
06-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Brown, MIT sue NSF over massive research fund cuts
The suit was also filed alongside the Association of American Universities, the American Council on Education, and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. Advertisement In their filing, the plaintiffs said the cuts were unlawful and, if they were to occur, would 'badly undermine scientific research at America's universities and erode our nation's enviable status as a global leader in scientific research and innovation.' Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Mike England, a spokesman for the NSF, declined to comment for this story On Friday, the NSF announced it would cap reimbursement for indirect research costs at 15 percent for all new grants awarded to colleges — a move that mirrors new policies at the NSF provides funding to higher education institutions, and allocated $7.2 billion in 2024 for research and other related activities. During that fiscal year, the agency funded projects at 1,850 colleges and universities. Advertisement Since the Trump administration announced it would make a third attempt to cap the reimbursement rate at another major scientific agency, higher education groups have called the direction 'misguided,' and said these cuts would harm the nation's research enterprise. 'The third time is not a charm; rather, it is disaster in the making for American science [and] technology and our nation's continuing competitiveness,' said Matt Owens, president of COGR, an organization for research universities and medical centers, in Owens said NSF-sponsored research has 'propelled' scientific discoveries that are 'vital to American innovation [and] competitiveness,' including semiconductors, the internet, and 3-D printing. Kara D. Freeman, the president and CEO of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, said the cuts were 'short-sighted and ultimately against the nation's interests.' 'This retrenchment is not a good deal for taxpayers,' Freeman said in a In Providence, Brown is already facing a Advertisement Brown has had about three dozen grants for scientific research cut by the Trump administration in the last couple of months, many of them related to gender, race, or diversity, equity and inclusion, said Clark. 'There are a significant number of uncertainties,' Clark told the Globe. He said the university is planning for all possible scenarios, and asking researchers to pause discretionary funding temporarily. Widespread cuts could mean layoffs and the end of high-impact research, Clark noted. Clark and a spokesperson for MIT did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the impact of the NSF cuts. Alexa Gagosz can be reached at
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump-era deportations rattle US campuses as over 4,000 foreign students face removal
Trump-era deportations rattle US campuses, foreign talent at risk, over 4,000 foreign students face deportation As a wave of deportation threats sweeps across US campuses, over 4,000 foreign students—many of them from India—are facing potential removal under the Trump administration's renewed immigration crackdown. University officials, legal experts, and students themselves are scrambling to respond, with many fearing not only for their education but also their safety and future. With a record 1.1 million international students currently studying in the US, the stakes are high. According to the Association of American Universities, these students contributed $44 billion to the US economy last year. Now, that investment—and the global talent pipeline behind it—appears increasingly at risk. Students warned, lawyers called in In recent weeks, immigration agents have arrested students connected to pro-Palestinian protests, while thousands more have been targeted for deportation over minor offences or past arrests. According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deleted over 4,700 names from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), with nearly half of them being Indian nationals. Many of these students were participating in post-graduate work experience under Optional Practical Training. As reported by Reuters, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, stated, 'If you are in our country illegally, we will arrest, we will deport you, and you will never return.' In response, US universities have begun advising international students to stay enrolled, seek legal representation, and avoid international travel. An official from a major university, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said, 'Those who contest being deleted from SEVIS would be allowed to continue studying.' Legal battles and university support grow At least 200 students who were removed from SEVIS have secured court orders preventing immediate deportation, according to Reuters. Immigration attorney Clay Greenberg told Reuters, 'For the most part, the students I've spoken to, their schools are permitting them to keep attending classes.' Institutions including George Mason University and the University of California are exploring ways for affected students to complete their studies. Rachel Zaentz, a spokesperson for the UC Office of the President, confirmed this approach to Reuters. Indian students at the centre of the storm Over half of the international student population in the US hails from India and China. Indian students, in particular, appear to be disproportionately impacted. In one case reported by Reuters, an Indian undergraduate in Georgia said his visa status was revoked after being linked to a DUI charge that was ultimately dismissed. 'My college is letting me continue,' he said, adding that he now avoids anyone in uniform. Self-deportation and rising fear Some students have already chosen to leave the country voluntarily. As reported by Reuters, Momadou Taal, a dual citizen of the UK and Gambia and a protest leader at Cornell University, left in March after being told to surrender to immigration officials. 'I'll be able to finish up remotely,' he said. Duke University recently warned its international students not to leave the US during summer break, fearing they may not be allowed back in. According to Reuters, one Indian graduate student said students now fear deportation for minor infractions like speeding or simply being fingerprinted. A threat to American academic identity MIT President Sally Kornbluth, quoted by Reuters, underscored the gravity of the situation, saying her institution 'would be gravely diminished without the students and scholars who join us from other nations.' As universities brace for the summer break, the Trump-era deportation surge is testing the resilience of international education in the US—and the country's ability to remain a beacon for global talent. For real-time updates, follow our AP SSC 10th Result 2025 Live Blog.
AsiaOne
26-04-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
US universities help foreign students weather Trump purge, World News
From warnings not to leave the country to guidance on how to complete degrees, US universities are advising foreign students how to withstand President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. First immigration agents arrested students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Then thousands of foreign students were targeted for deportation over minor offences and arrests. Meanwhile, university advisors quietly told students from abroad to hire a lawyer and keep attending classes while legal appeals played out, according to over two dozen students, immigration attorneys and university officials Reuters spoke to. For now, the strategy appeared to be working as the Trump administration on Friday (April 25) said it was restoring the visa registrations of foreign students whose legal statuses were terminated since late March. The move followed dozens of legal wins by students who challenged the terminations. With a record 1.1 million foreign students in the country, at stake is the US$44 billion (S$57.8 billion) they contributed to the US economy last year, according to the Association of American Universities, a higher education advocacy group. It's not just the money. MIT President Sally Kornbluth pointed to global talent, saying hers "is an American university, proudly so — but we would be gravely diminished without the students and scholars who join us from other nations". Indians hit hard Over half of foreign students in the United States are from India and China, according to the Institute of International Education advocacy group. Since late March US Immigration and Customs Enforcement deleted more than 4,700 names from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems database of visa holders, often citing criminal activity, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Of those, almost half were Indian students, many of them graduates in work experience known as Optional Practical Training, based on an AILA study of 327 cases. [[nid:716907]] Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin urged students whose SEVIS status had been revoked to leave. "If you are in our country illegally, we will arrest, we will deport you, and you will never return," McLaughlin said in a statement. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment after Friday's reversal on SEVIS terminations. Over 200 students removed from SEVIS have won court orders temporarily barring the administration from taking actions against them, according to a Reuters count. University officials told full-time students with SEVIS terminations to hire a lawyer. Those who contested being deleted from SEVIS were allowed to continue studying, said an official who advises foreign students at one major university, asking to remain anonymous in order to speak about the situation. "For the most part, the students I've spoken to, their schools are permitting them to keep attending classes," said New York immigration attorney Clay Greenberg, who is representing students with SEVIS terminations. George Mason University in Virginia told students to contact advisors to discuss ways to complete coursework. The University of California said it was finding ways for students to continue their education, said Rachel Zaentz, a spokesperson for the UC Office of the President. With summer break weeks away, Duke University recently warned international students not to leave the United States over fears they may not be let back in come fall. Students worry, self-deport After watching videos of pro-Palestinian students picked up by federal agents, foreign students fear deportation for speeding tickets or being fingerprinted, said an Indian computer science grad student at a Southwest US university, who asked not to be named. Some have self-deported. Momadou Taal, who led pro-Palestinian protests at Cornell University, left in March after being told to surrender to immigration officials. "I'll be able to finish up remotely," said Taal, a dual citizen of the UK and Gambia who planned to complete his studies in the United Kingdom. An Indian student in Georgia said his legal status was revoked after he was identified in criminal records showing he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. The charge was dismissed, he said. "My college is letting me continue," said the computer science undergraduate, adding that he was being careful. "If I see anyone in a uniform, I turn around," he said, requesting anonymity. ALSO READ: In first 100 days, Trump tells migrants 'leave the United States'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US universities help foreign students weather Trump deportations
By Andrew Hay and Nate Raymond (Reuters) - From warnings not to leave the country to guidance on how to complete degrees, U.S. universities are advising foreign students how to withstand President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. First immigration agents arrested students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Then thousands of foreign students were targeted for deportation over minor offenses and arrests. Now, some university advisors are quietly telling students from abroad to hire a lawyer and keep attending classes while legal appeals play out, according to over two dozen students, immigration attorneys and university officials Reuters spoke to. University faculty have gone to court to question the constitutionality of arrests. With a record 1.1 million foreign students in the country, at stake is the $44 billion they contributed to the U.S. economy last year, according to the Association of American Universities, a higher education advocacy group. It's not just the money. MIT President Sally Kornbluth pointed to global talent, saying hers "is an American university, proudly so – but we would be gravely diminished without the students and scholars who join us from other nations." INDIANS HIT HARD Over half of foreign students in the United States are from India and China, according to the Institute of International Education advocacy group. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has deleted more than 4,700 names from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems database of visa holders, often citing criminal activity, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Of those, almost half are Indian students, many of them graduates in work experience known as Optional Practical Training, based on an AILA study of 327 cases. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin urged students whose SEVIS status had been revoked to leave. "If you are in our country illegally, we will arrest, we will deport you, and you will never return," McLaughlin said in a statement. University officials are telling full-time students to hire a lawyer. Those who contest being deleted from SEVIS would be allowed to continue studying, said an official who advises foreign students at one major university, asking to remain anonymous in order to speak about the situation. 'For the most part, the students I've spoken to, their schools are permitting them to keep attending classes,' said New York immigration attorney Clay Greenberg who is representing students with SEVIS terminations. Over 200 students removed from SEVIS have won court orders temporarily barring the administration from taking actions against them, according to a Reuters count. George Mason University in Virginia told students to contact advisors to discuss ways to complete coursework. The University of California is looking for ways for students to continue their education, said Rachel Zaentz, a spokeswoman for the UC Office of the President. With summer break weeks away, Duke University recently warned international students not to leave the United States over fears they may not be let back in come fall. STUDENTS WORRY, SELF-DEPORT After watching videos of pro-Palestinian students picked up by federal agents, foreign students fear deportation for speeding tickets or being fingerprinted, said an Indian computer science grad student at a Southwest U.S. university, who asked not to be named. Some have self-deported. Momadou Taal, who led pro-Palestinian protests at Cornell University, left in March after being told to surrender to immigration officials. "I'll be able to finish up remotely," said Taal, a dual citizen of the UK and Gambia who planned to complete his studies in the United Kingdom. An Indian student in Georgia said his legal status was revoked after he was identified in criminal records showing he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. The charge was dismissed, he said. "My college is letting me continue," said the computer science undergraduate, adding that he was being careful. "If I see anyone in a uniform, I turn around," he said, requesting anonymity. (Reporting By Andrew Hay in New Mexico and Nate Raymond in Boston. Editing by Donna Bryson and Franklin Paul)
