New York and the New Jersey -general prosecutors joined a coalition of 16 states pursuing the Trump administration on what they call illegal cuts to scientific research and diversity in the STEM fields.
The trial follows two recent changes in the National Science Foundation.
In April, the agency began to end the programs to increase the participation of women, people of color and people with disabilities in science and genius.
Earlier this month, the NSF announced that it would cap “indirect costs”, or things like laboratory space, equipment and installation services, at 15%. This new ceiling would considerably reduce the financing of public universities.
Suny said that he expects $ 24.6 million in indirect cost financing this exercise, which could be reduced to $ 18 million under the new rule. During the year 2024, Suny campuses received $ 104 million in NSF funding on 23 campuses.
The directive has already assigned programs in New York.
The NSF withdrawn $ 11 million in funding from 18 CUNY programs focused on stimulating participation in STEM by under-represented groups.
The 38 pages trial Maintains that new NSF policies violate the federal law and the intention of the congress. He asks a court to block changes to take effect.
“Putting politics above science will only retreat our country,” said New York Attorney General on Wednesday, Letitia James.
“Whenever we go online, analyze a barcode at the checkout or get an MRI, we use the technology made possible by the National Science Foundation,” said James. “The attacks of this administration against the fundamental sciences and essential efforts to guarantee the diversity of STEMs will weaken our economy and our national security.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comments from Gothamist.