Trump administration again suspends UC Berkeley research grants

"The National Science Foundation suspended at least 18 research grants to UC Berkeley in April despite a court injunction restricting such suspensions, according to an attorney representing university scientists in a class action lawsuit. The National Science Foundation declined to comment on the suspensions. The grants include at least one that the NSF had previously canceled and was compelled by a federal court order to restore, for a series of mixed-reality exhibits at the Lawrence Hall of Science showcasing Indigenous Ohlone knowledge about the natural world, said one of the project's leaders, Jedda Foreman."

"Foreman, an associate director at the Lawrence Hall of Science, said another researcher on her team received an email April 17 from UC Berkeley's vice chancellor of research, Katherine Yelick, notifying them that the National Science Foundation had suspended the $1.4 million grant. Foreman said she viewed the email, which said the university had received a letter from the NSF raising concerns about foreign funding. The email did not provide a copy of the letter or explain further, she said."

"Foreman said the Lawrence Hall of Science had not received any foreign funding for the project. The grantees were given near-zero information about what was problematic in the execution of their grant, said Claudia Polsky, a professor at UC Berkeley School of Law who is representing Foreman and other researchers in a suit they filed last year contesting a previous round of grant cancellations by the Trump administration."

"Polsky said her legal team was seeking more information about the 18 suspensions, but that the freezing of Foreman's grant appeared to violate a court order a federal judge issued in that case restoring the defunded projects. UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof said in a statement that the university is engaged with the government on matters pertaining to rese"

The National Science Foundation suspended at least 18 research grants to UC Berkeley in April, according to an attorney representing university scientists in a class action lawsuit. The suspensions occurred despite a court injunction restricting NSF from suspending grants, and the NSF declined to comment. One affected grant involved mixed-reality exhibits at the Lawrence Hall of Science featuring Indigenous Ohlone knowledge about the natural world. A project leader said a team member received an April 17 email from UC Berkeley’s vice chancellor of research stating the NSF had suspended a $1.4 million grant after the university received an NSF letter raising concerns about foreign funding. The project team said it received no foreign funding. Lawyers said the grantees received near-zero information about the issues and that the freezing appeared to violate a federal court order restoring previously defunded projects.

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