A federal judge has allowed the Trump administration to move forward with eliminating more than 1,600 National Science Foundation (NSF) research grants valued at over $1 billion. The ruling came after scientific and academic groups sought an injunction to stop the cuts, but the court declined to intervene while the case continues.
The NSF, a cornerstone of U.S. scientific and engineering research for 75 years, has long enjoyed bipartisan support. However, under the administration’s new priorities, widespread cuts were introduced to grants and programs, including those designed to expand participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for women, minorities, and people with disabilities.
Organizations representing researchers and educators argued that the abrupt cancellations violated federal law and undermined diversity initiatives mandated by Congress. They contended the decision was arbitrary and stripped away funding required to support innovation and national defense. The court, however, found the plaintiffs had not demonstrated irreparable harm or a clear chance of success on their constitutional claims.
Despite the setback, the coalition behind the lawsuit vowed to continue fighting the policy, insisting that the administration acted unlawfully in cutting legally mandated funding. They emphasized the NSF’s role in breakthroughs ranging from organ transplants and gene technology to cybersecurity and extreme weather warning systems.
According to an independent tracker, nearly 2,000 taxpayer-funded research grants have already been canceled since the cuts began, with around 420 later reinstated.