National Science Foundation Suspends 18 UC Berkeley Research Grants

The National Science Foundation suspended at least 18 research grants to UC Berkeley last month even though a federal court injunction restricts such suspensions. An attorney representing university scientists in a class-action lawsuit reported the action.

The NSF declined to comment on the suspensions. One of the suspended grants had previously been canceled by the agency and was later restored under a federal court order. It funds a series of mixed-reality exhibits at the Lawrence Hall of Science that showcase Indigenous Ohlone knowledge about the natural world.

An associate director at the Lawrence Hall of Science said a researcher on the team received an email from the university’s vice chancellor of research notifying them that the NSF had suspended the $1.4-million grant. The email provided no copy of the suspension letter and offered no further explanation.

The Lawrence Hall of Science had not received any foreign funding for the project. One of the exhibits, co-designed with Ohlone youth, is scheduled to open on Sunday while another is set for the fall of 2028. Researchers are also studying whether participation in creating the exhibits increases interest in science among Indigenous young people and raises the likelihood they will pursue STEM careers.

" — Jedda Foreman (Los Angeles Times) The grantees received near-zero information about what was problematic in the execution of their grant. A professor at UC Berkeley School of Law representing the researchers in the lawsuit filed last year said the legal team is seeking more information about the 18 suspensions.

The professor expressed concern that the freezing of the grant may violate a court order restoring the previously defunded projects.

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction last June restoring grants canceled by the NSF, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The order barred the agencies from revoking funds through form letters lacking grant-specific explanations or based on executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The judge later ruled that indefinitely suspending a grant amounted to terminating it and required the agency to reinstate the funds. The class-action lawsuit contests grant reversals by multiple federal agencies including the NSF, Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency and National Endowment for the Humanities.

The University of California is not a party to the suit. The researchers won restoration of the Ohlone-focused exhibits as part of that injunction.

California received $525 million in NSF grants in the 2024-25 budget year. The agency has terminated nearly 2,000 grants nationwide that it said did not align with its priorities and has slowed approval and disbursement of new awards. In late April, President Trump fired all 22 members of the independent board of scientists that oversaw the NSF and has proposed cutting the agency’s budget by more than half in 2027.

The University of California is increasing efforts to secure alternative funding for its research programs. On Monday, the UC president spoke at a Sacramento rally supporting state legislation to create a $23-billion fund for scientific research. If approved, the measure would place a bond on the November ballot to support work in wildfire and pandemic preparedness, new medical treatments and other areas.