The AAUP and allies representing educators and researchers has filed a legal challenge to the recent mass termination of grants by the National Science Foundation (NSF), a move that threatens American innovation, scientific leadership, economic strength, and national defense. The coalition of plaintiffs includes the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the Women in Engineering ProActive Network, the American Educational Research Association, and the United Auto Workers.
Part of NSF’s congressionally mandated mission is to expand the participation of underrepresented people in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs to help maintain American leadership into the future. Congress recognized in legislation that “historically, underrepresented populations are the largest untapped STEM talent pools in the United States,” and Congress has formally declared “that the highest quality science and engineering over the long-term requires substantial support … for increased participation in science and engineering by women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.” Consistent with these laws, NSF has long been a major source of federal funding for scientific research and STEM education.
The agency came under threat after Trump’s inauguration, however, when DOGE staff arrived at NSF and the agency announced that it was suddenly “changing its priorities.” This priority change initiated a massive purge of previously awarded grants and other funding assistance, with 1,600 grants worth $1 billion eliminated. While the cancelled grants address a wide range of subject matters, many of them implement Congressional mandates to improve participation by women, minorities, and people with disabilities in STEM fields.
"The abrupt cancellation of these grants damages critical research in American higher education and has repercussions far beyond academia. The slashing of vital research is devastating to our communities and will stunt the development of the next generation of scientists,” said Todd Wolfson, AAUP President.
The coalition is represented in the matter by Democracy Forward and the Norton Law Firm.