URBANA– The University of Illinois is suing the federal government over a cap on energy grants.
Last week, the Department of Energy announced it plans to cut its university research grants for “indirect” administrative and facility costs down to 15%. The department says that will halt inefficient spending while expanding American research.
The U of I System joined a lawsuit with the Association of American Universities and eight other schools Monday, according to a memo from Chancellor Robert Jones and Provost John Coleman.
The cap is a “flagrantly unlawful action” and a “virtual carbon copy” of a separate funding cut to health research that a judge already blocked, according to the lawsuit.
The filing claims the new policy would “devastate scientific research.” It states those grants help fund administrative staff, computers for large volumes of data and specialized nuclear-rated facilities.
U of I is one of the largest recipients of DOE funding — with an individual cap of nearly 59% on research grant funding, the lawsuit states.