ResearchÂ
The latest updates on legislation and regulations that impact Duke's research enterprise.
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NIH UPDATESBelow are several updates related to National Institutes of Health (NIH) news:
HELP Committee Hearing on NIH Director Nominee
The HELP Committee held a nomination hearing for Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya this week, where he outlined goals to address chronic disease, improve scientific data reliability, foster scientific dissent, boost innovation, and regulate risky research. Senators raised concerns about the Administration’s cuts to F&A costs and NIH funding freezes. On Thursday, the committee also held a hearing for Martin Makary’s FDA Commissioner nomination, with another scheduled next week for David Weldon as CDC Director.Â
HHS Rescinds Long-Standing Richardson Waiver Policy on Public Participation
The Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that it is rescinding its Nixon-era policy on inviting public participation when making rules and regulations related to public property, loans, grants, benefits or contracts. “The extra-statutory obligations of the Richardson Waiver impose costs on the Department and the public, are contrary to the efficient operation of the Department, and impede the Department’s flexibility to adapt quickly to legal and policy mandates,” the notice said. The department will now follow a notice-and-comment process only as required by the Administrative Procedure Act, which exempts rules related to public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts from the law’s notice-and-comment requirements.Â
Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Blocking Cuts to NIH Research CostsÂ
A federal judge on Wednesday issued a nationwide injunction blocking the Trump administration from implementing a cap on facilities and administrative (F&A) costs for NIH grants at a rate of 15 percent until the court case is complete and a final decision is made. According to the judge, “it is likely Plaintiffs will succeed on the merits, rendering the [NIH] notice unlawful.” As the court case continues to play out, we and our colleagues at Duke Health Government Relations will continue educating policymakers about research costs and advocating about the devastating impacts of this guidance on Duke research.
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ENERGY SCIENCES COALITION REQUESTS $9.5B FOR DOE OFFICE OF SCIENCE IN FY26The Energy Sciences Coalition, of which Duke is a member, has urged Congress to allocate at least $9.5 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science in FY26. The coalition emphasized that this funding is crucial for maintaining U.S. competitiveness and driving innovation in energy and emerging technologies. The proposed funding would support operations at DOE labs, expand STEM education programs and advance research in areas like quantum information science and artificial intelligence.
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DOD TERMINATES MULTIPLE GRANTS MADE UNDER MINERVA RESEARCH INITIATIVE
The Department of Defense (DOD) has ended multiple grants under the Minerva Research Initiative, which funds social science research focused on security. This move follows a press release from the DOD stating that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has identified $80 million in wasteful spending, which could be redirected to improve military readiness. As a result, further cuts to DOD grants and contracts are expected due to an eight percent shift in budget priorities.
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| Student Aid, Institutional Support and Taxes
The latest updates regarding legislation and regulatory actions related to student aid, higher education institutional support, taxes and more.
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EXECUTIVE ORDER EXPECTED TO TARGET DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR CLOSURE
Following the confirmation of Secretary Linda McMahon, a draft Executive Order (EO) targeting the closure of the Department of Education was leaked. According to a summary from NAICU, “At a policy level, the draft order focuses on elementary and secondary education and diversity, equity, and inclusion, while also clearly acknowledging the need to follow current legal authority. This last feature is very important because the ability to create or abolish cabinet agencies is left to Congress…Regardless of what happens to the Department, statutorily authorized programs, including the federal student aid programs, cannot be eliminated via executive order and thus should continue to operate despite this order. The federal student aid programs, for example, pre-date the creation of the Department of Education.”
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NEA SUES TO BLOCK TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DEI GUIDANCEThe National Education Association (NEA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent enforcement of the guidance, following a similar lawsuit from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The NEA argues that the letter, threatening to cut federal funding, would harm public schools and their role in promoting democracy. The NEA seeks a court ruling to block the enforcement of the guidance, claiming it violates constitutional rights and causes "substantial, irreparable harm."
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TRUMP WILL MODIFY PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS VIA EOEarlier today, President Trump said he would sign an executive order later Friday directing the Education Department to modify the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. The program, established under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, forgives a portion of federal student loan debt for individuals employed in public sector roles, including those at nonprofit organizations. The Office of Government Relations will continue to monitor this story and share more details as the specifics of the Executive Order come out.
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| Additional Federal Relations Items of Interest to DukeÂ
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TRUMP ADMIN CANCELS $400M IN GRANTS AND CONTRACTS AT COLUMBIA
Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the immediate cancellation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to the school’s, "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students." This follows those agencies' announcement earlier this week about their plans to review Columbia's federal grants and contracts following ongoing investigations for potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
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SCOTUS UPHOLDS JUDGE'S ORDER TO RESTART FOREIGN AID PAYMENTS
Yesterday, a federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration must make payments to foreign aid contractors and grant recipients by 6 p.m. Monday, following a Supreme Court decision rejecting the administration's request to delay the deadline. The ruling stems from a lawsuit challenging the administration's freeze on U.S. foreign aid, which includes nearly $2 billion in payments for past work. The judge had previously blocked a blanket pause on foreign aid but allowed for some contract cancellations. The government has since accelerated its review of foreign aid contracts, but contractors argue that the terminations were illegal, as the funds had been appropriated by Congress. The administration has committed to making payments to the plaintiffs within days, but payments to other parties could take longer.
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