Federal Grant Cuts: A Blow to Black Research

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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The NIH Squeeze: Doubled Rejections and Deep Cuts

The Trump administration has significantly increased the rejection rate of federal research grants, causing widespread concern among scientists and universities. This trend is particularly evident with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a crucial source of funding for medical and health-related research. Grant rejections from the NIH have more than doubled (nature.com). This alarming rise in rejections is coupled with a proposed substantial budget cut for the NIH. The administration has proposed cutting the NIH’s budget by approximately 40%, aiming to reduce it to US$27 billion in 2026 (nature.com). This proposed cut represents a dramatic shift from previous funding trends, where the NIH budget had generally seen increases or stable funding (nature.com).

The immediate consequences of these actions are severe. Hundreds of active research grants are being terminated, and some United States laboratories face imminent closure (nature.com). Researchers whose applications have been withdrawn can reapply, but this means waiting months or even a year for potential funding (nature.com). Many are already struggling to keep their laboratories afloat (nature.com). This situation creates immense pressure on scientists, particularly those from underrepresented groups, who often face additional hurdles in securing research funding. The NIH did not respond to queries about the increase in withdrawn grants or the discontinuation of funding categories (nature.com).

Beyond NIH: Widespread Financial Losses

The impact of federal funding cuts extends far beyond the NIH, affecting various federal agencies and leading to significant financial losses for universities across the nation. Universities have collectively lost over US$11 billion in federal funding (theconversation.com). This massive reduction in support is felt acutely by institutions that rely heavily on federal grants to power their research endeavors. For example, the National Science Foundation (NSF) funding has dropped by more than 50% through the end of May compared to the average of the past 10 years (theconversation.com). This significant decline affects a broad spectrum of scientific and engineering research, from fundamental discoveries to applied technologies.

A clear example of these cuts is seen at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder). The university alone has received 56 grant cancellations or stop-work orders in 2025, amounting to approximately $30 million in lost funding (theconversation.com). This figure does not include awards on hold or funds inaccessible due to funding lags (theconversation.com). Furthermore, the Presidential Budget Request proposes up to 24% cuts to NASA’s annual budget, including a drastic 47% reduction for the Science Mission Directorate (theconversation.com). The Science Mission Directorate is vital for university research programs, as it supports numerous space missions and scientific investigations. These proposed cuts could immediately impact CU Boulder programs by approximately $50 million (theconversation.com). Such widespread financial losses threaten the very foundation of academic research, which serves as a critical pathway for Black scholars and scientists to contribute to national innovation.

Critical Research Under Threat

The funding cuts threaten critical research across various fields, with potential long-term consequences for national innovation and economic sectors. Research into cancer, farming solutions, and climate resiliency are among the many projects nationally that have seen cuts (theconversation.com). These areas are not merely academic pursuits; they are vital for public health, food security, and environmental stability. For example, cuts to cancer research could slow the development of new treatments and cures, disproportionately affecting Black communities who often face higher rates of certain cancers and disparities in healthcare access.

At CU Boulder, affected research includes work on artificial intelligence, space exploration, planetary sciences, quantum technologies, biosciences, and climate and energy (theconversation.com). The potential cancellation of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter, a key mission for future Mars exploration, would cost almost $1 billion to restart (theconversation.com). Furthermore, stagnation in quantum technology funding, despite its national priority status, could undermine progress and workforce training (theconversation.com). This could cede U.S. leadership to global competitors (theconversation.com). Persistent funding cuts pose significant long-term consequences for scientific innovation and public health, leading to a stagnation of scientific progress and a reduced capacity to respond to emerging health crises (nature.com). This also risks a “brain drain,” where talented researchers leave the field or the country, diminishing the nation’s scientific leadership (nature.com).

Economic Ripples: Colorado’s Research Hub

Federal funds are crucial for university research, and their reduction has significant economic implications, particularly for states with strong research sectors like Colorado. Federal funding accounts for approximately 70% of CU Boulder’s research budget, totaling about $495 million in the 2023-2024 fiscal year (theconversation.com). This substantial reliance means that cuts directly translate into reduced research activity, fewer jobs, and less innovation flowing into the local economy. The ripple effect extends to the broader community, including Black residents who may work in or benefit from industries supported by university research.

Colorado’s aerospace economy, which boasts more aerospace jobs per capita than any other state with over 55,000 employees, relies heavily on university research (theconversation.com). This sector could be severely impacted by cuts to programs like those at CU Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (theconversation.com). Furthermore, the cuts directly impact the safety, well-being, and prosperity of Colorado residents by affecting research on extreme weather conditions and natural disasters (theconversation.com). This includes vital recovery efforts after events such as the 2021 Marshall Fire (theconversation.com). For Black communities, who are often disproportionately affected by environmental hazards and economic downturns, these cuts represent a significant threat to their stability and future opportunities.

The Human Cost: Researchers on the Brink

The termination of hundreds of active research grants by the NIH is having a profound impact on researchers, leading to struggles for laboratories to stay afloat (nature.com). This situation also risks wasting billions of dollars in sunk research costs (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). While the specific duration and funding cycles of NIH and NSF grants vary, these abrupt cancellations disrupt ongoing projects, forcing researchers to reapply for funding under new, limited opportunities (nature.com). This can mean waiting months or even a year for potential money (nature.com).

Early-career researchers are particularly vulnerable to these cuts, as they often rely on consistent funding to establish their labs and research programs (scientificamerican.com). The increased grant rejections and terminations make it significantly harder for them to secure the necessary funding, potentially forcing them out of academia or into less stable career paths (scientificamerican.com). While specific statistics on underrepresented groups are not provided, it is generally understood that any reduction in funding opportunities can exacerbate existing inequalities, making it even more challenging for researchers from Black and other underrepresented backgrounds to enter and thrive in scientific fields. A judge recently ruled against cuts to hundreds of NIH grants, calling them “void and illegal” and indicating that funding must be reinstated (scientificamerican.com).

Navigating Data Challenges

Data on federal funding and grant activity can be complex and subject to reporting lags. There may be delays between award notices sent to investigators and their appearance in databases like NIH RePORTER (github.com). This can introduce an artificial lag for the most recent data (github.com). Such delays mean that the full extent of the funding cuts and their impact may not be immediately apparent in public records, making it harder to assess the real-time situation.

The accuracy of data relies on how agencies like NIH RePORTER work, and subtleties in their reporting methods could distort results (github.com). This technical aspect of data collection means that understanding the true scope of federal grant reductions requires careful analysis and an awareness of these inherent limitations. For communities and institutions trying to plan for the future, these data challenges add another layer of uncertainty to an already precarious situation.

The federal research grant cuts under the Trump administration pose a severe threat to scientific innovation, public health, and economic stability across the United States. The dramatic increase in NIH grant rejections and proposed budget cuts, coupled with significant financial losses for universities and other federal agencies, signals a challenging future for research. These reductions impact critical fields from cancer research to quantum technology, with potential long-term consequences for national leadership and the well-being of all citizens. For Black communities, these cuts could exacerbate existing disparities in health outcomes, economic opportunities, and access to STEM careers. The human cost is high, as researchers struggle to maintain their labs and early-career scientists face immense hurdles. Addressing these funding challenges is crucial for ensuring a robust scientific enterprise that benefits everyone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.