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Universities warn of grant delays, program losses and indirect-cost threats after federal changes
Summary
University officials told the committee that recent federal actions and executive orders have delayed awards, cancelled grants and could sharply reduce federal indirect-cost reimbursements — measures that could cost UND and NDSU millions and affect student training, medical programs and research infrastructure.
Officials from the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University briefed the committee on the effects of recent federal actions on campus research and training programs, saying slowed agency approvals and possible future cuts could cost campuses millions and affect students and rural health-care capacity.
UND Vice President for Research Scott Schneider said the university has seen eight awards canceled for a loss of roughly $3 million and that "at-risk" spending (work the university expects to fund before federal payments arrive) reached roughly $1 million, driven by delays in Department of Energy and other awards. He warned of a proposed cap on administrative (indirect) cost reimbursement that agencies pay to universities; a 15% cap proposed in some budgets would reduce UND's research support by an estimated $15 million annually, he said.
Schneider also said the elimination of the Graduate PLUS loan program and limits on Parent PLUS loans could squeeze medical and law students, and cited Pell-rule changes that will change eligibility for certain students. "The elimination of the grad plus student loan program ... could ultimately affect how many students can go into medicine and go into law," he said.
NDSU interim research vice president Holly Grunwald said NDSU lost 14 grants totaling $1.6 million from agencies including CDC, USDA and NSF; she described USDA cooperative agreements capped at 85% that will cost NDSU about $1.1 million per year and have already reduced college staff. She warned that executive actions to require additional administrative review of funding announcements and potential deep cuts at NSF and NIH could further reduce the number of available awards.
Nut graf: University leaders asked lawmakers to monitor federal budget and regulatory actions closely, citing impacts to student training (including medical residencies tied to rural hospitals), workforce development grants and research infrastructure that support state economic activity.
Both universities said they have been working with North Dakota's congressional delegation and asked the committee for legislative attention to the issues. Committee members said they would continue to track federal budget and regulatory changes and invited system and campus leaders to return with updates.
Ending: Universities will provide follow-up briefings on specific program impacts, and the committee will monitor federal appropriations and administrative rule changes that affect campus research and student aid.
