Sixteen states led by Democratic attorneys general have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over sweeping cuts to National Science Foundation (NSF) grants totaling $1.4 billion. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan, seeks to block the funding reductions and roll back recent program changes the states say threaten America’s global leadership in science and technology.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the lawsuit, criticized the administration’s actions. “This administration’s attacks on basic science and on essential efforts to promote diversity in STEM will undermine our economy and weaken our national security,” she said in a statement.
The lawsuit claims the NSF has begun dismantling initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. It also challenges a newly imposed rule that caps indirect research costs—such as lab maintenance and equipment—to just 15% of total grant funding, a move the states argue undermines the practical realities of conducting scientific research.
According to The New York Times, these changes run counter to congressional directives that have guided NSF policy since 1980, including longstanding efforts to broaden access and equity in STEM.
The lawsuit comes amid a turbulent period for the agency. Just days after the grant cancellations began, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan announced his resignation. As of this week, more than 1,700 grants have reportedly been terminated, including $18 million in funding slated for the State University of New York.
The Trump administration’s draft budget for fiscal year 2024 proposes slashing the NSF’s $9 billion budget by nearly 56%.
In addition to New York, the states joining the lawsuit include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.
