My latest from inside NIH as well as universities that get its funding. I think it is important to say clearly what moves like this will actually do to people.
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
If you are a researcher or administrator/staff at NIH-funded universities, I would love to hear what's happening at your institution in the wake of the indirect costs policy change. Signal is davelevitan.26, you can remain anonymous if you prefer.
The first thing happening is we’ve paused accepting new graduate students into our College of Natural Sciences here at UT Austin. I think the administration is worried about making commitments it can’t honor.
If this Admin really wanted to do it the legal way, they would create a new budget to be passed on 3/15 w/ these changes, but they know it won't pass so they do it the illegal way. Which is shameful for this Admin. as well as the silent GOP who would otherwise not let it happen if forced to vote.
The real story here is that there is a big free rider problem, with Texas, Ohio, Florida, Alabama etc sitting it out but crossing their fingers and praying that Massachusetts et al. succeeds
If they want to proactively stop the spread of bird flu, you’d think spending taxpayer funding on finding a cure, not just for humans but also wildlife, farm animals, pets, would be a better use of funds than spending it on Musk’s govt contracts.
SO MANY ppl r uninformed/have very ltd attention bandwith. Pls, scientists, make it VIVID & QUICK. “U have a racehorse. Someone says, we’re just going to trim off the mane & half the tail. Maybe nip some ear, but U still have almost the whole horse” vs “We’re only cutting off 1 foot, stop whining”
Taking anyone or any entity to court only matters if the authority of the judiciary isn’t questioned. Believe it or not in 2015 America, this has become an open question.
As for the P2025 "leftist agendas" remark, I don't think it's helpful to mischaracterize these evil people. They think unis are fat off tax $ and used that to create DEI programs and brainwash youth into marxism and LGBTQ+.
Especially if those people have jobs funded by indirect F&A funding; such as administrative, secretarial, assistants, custodial, building and grounds maintenance, HR, etc. These facilities and admin support jobs will be immediately gone.
As a CFO at an NIH funded research university, I can tell you that the average indirect cost rate is more like 50%. Absolutely no nonprofit has an admin cost rate as low as 15%. Either Musk is ignorant or willfully destructive. Which is it?
It's Russ Vought. The recommendation to reduce to 15 percent is straight from Project 2025. They claim indirect costs are used to subsidize woke ideology.
While he is also ignorant, this is intentionally destructive. Inciting chaos - hitting us with rapid fire confusion and disasters while he profits and ensures future barriers to his interests are removed. Like when you fall down on the trampoline and the other kids keep jumping so you can’t get up.
Comments
*principal
As for the P2025 "leftist agendas" remark, I don't think it's helpful to mischaracterize these evil people. They think unis are fat off tax $ and used that to create DEI programs and brainwash youth into marxism and LGBTQ+.
https://ww2.aip.org/fyi/project-2025-outlines-possible-future-for-science-agencies
(So, whether they're uninformed enough to think it makes sense, or whether it's a reference # they can use as an excuse)