New York Attorney General Letitia James accused the Trump administration of attacking ‘basic science and essential efforts to ensure diversity in STEM.’
Sixteen states are suing the National Science Foundation (NSF) over the agency’s recent actions against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, accused NSF of taking actions jeopardizing “America’s longstanding global leadership in STEM.”
“First, NSF announced that it would no longer abide by Congress’s longstanding policy to promote a robust STEM workforce that draws in underrepresented populations,” the states said in the May 28 filing.
On April 18, NSF announced updated priorities for its funding programs. It clarified that efforts aimed at broadening STEM participation “should not preference some groups at the expense of others, or directly/indirectly exclude individuals or groups.”
“Research projects with more narrow impact limited to subgroups of people based on protected class or characteristics do not effectuate NSF priorities,” it said, adding that projects relying on “DEI frameworks or advocacy do not effectuate NSF priorities.”
According to the complaint, on the same day that NSF published its updated priorities, the agency started issuing termination notices for several projects, many of which are in the plaintiffs’ states.
Affected projects include those seeking to “increase STEM participation by women, minorities, and people with disabilities; that study misinformation; and that address environmental justice,” according to the filing.
The second NSF policy challenged in the lawsuit is the agency’s May 2 announcement that it would cap indirect costs on research projects at 15 percent. Such costs include expenses related to lab space, facility operations, and security for sensitive research.
This rate cap is “far below the rates” that higher education institutions have negotiated with the federal government, according to the complaint.
