Research Funding at Stake: Urgent Advocacy Needed for NIH Indirect Cost Policy

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 05:00:00 GMT

UPDATE: On February 10, the attorneys general of 22 states filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for unlawfully imposing a 15% rate for Facilities and Administration (F&A) costs. A federal district court judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing DHHS/NIH from applying the new F&A rate in the 22 states involved in the lawsuit. In addition, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the Association of American Medical Colleges' motion for a nationwide temporary restraining order. However, additional legal rulings may allow DHHS/NIH to fully implement the new policy at a later time.

The recent abrupt change in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Facilities and Administration (F&A) policy will have a significant impact on the scientific community. On February 7, NIH announced an immediate cap of 15% on F&A payments included in grants provided to universities, hospitals, and research institutes. These payments help cover essential expenses such as lab space, utilities, and compliance with federal regulations on animal welfare, research security, and biosafety. Capping NIH indirect costs to 15% is concerning to both scientific research and the local economies supported by the research ecosystem. We encourage you to let Congress know the negative impact that this policy change will have on you and the human genetics and genomics research community.

By entering your address, the form below will allow you to contact your members of Congress. We encourage you to personalize the letter to share details of the impact on your work. You can use the following resources to add additional details about federal research funding to your district and state:

You can also contact your House Representative or Senators by phone by calling the Capitol Switchboard. Simply call this number (202) 224-3121, give the operator your zip code, and they will connect you with your elected officials' office.

August Advocacy: Fight for Robust NIH Investments

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

During August, members of Congress are back in their home states and districts, connecting with constituents and holding local events. When they head back to Washington, D.C., they'll be diving into work on the budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026. We have a unique and powerful opportunity now to advocate for robust and sustained funding for NIH.

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to advance a bill that would boost NIH funding by about $400 million. With members of the House Appropriations Committee set to take up their version of the NIH funding bill in early September, now’s a key time to ensure that Congress understands why continued investment is important and what’s at stake if the President’s proposed cuts are implemented.

Please urge Congress to:

Ensure strong, sustainable funding for NIH in FY 2026.
Exercise its oversight authority to ensure that any NIH reorganization protects the full spectrum of medical research, including human genetics and genomics.
Avoid a government shutdown and complete the FY 2026 funding bills in a timely manner.

During August recess, it is vital for Senators and Representatives to hear directly from you about the value of NIH-funded research, and about the real-time impacts of biomedical research on the people and institutions in their districts.

Join the campaign to protect NIH and human genetics research today!

Please enter your personal contact information (not your institution's address) to ensure that your message is delivered to your correct member of Congress. We strongly encourage you to personalize the letter by describing your NIH-funded research and how it is being impacted. If you work at a state university and are not sure if you can take action, please check with your institution's federal relations office. You can also call your elected officials in Washington, DC by calling the Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121.

Current Actions

Research Funding at Stake: Urgent Advocacy Needed for NIH Indirect Cost Policy

August Advocacy: Fight for Robust NIH Investments