Salem, Oregon – Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has taken a brave move by joining a group of sixteen attorneys general from all over the country in suing the Trump administration over actions that have affected scientific research and education initiatives. Rayfield and his colleagues say that the National Science Foundation (NSF) made changes that could slow down growth in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) sectors. These changes are at the heart of the legal case.
Earlier this spring, the NSF decided to end a number of projects that were meant to help women, minorities, and people with disabilities get involved in STEM fields. Congress gave money to and required these programs, which have been very important in making the American workforce more diverse and representative in important fields. The attorneys general say that getting rid of these kinds of programs might slow down or possibly reverse decades of progress in giving more chances to underrepresented groups.
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The NSF also said that there would be new limits on “indirect costs” for research programs, which is another blow to the scientific community. These costs, which cover things like labs, equipment, and administrative support, would be capped at 15 percent. This could cut millions of dollars from university research budgets across the country. Rayfield underlined that these random limits would not only put ongoing projects at risk, but they may also lead to layoffs and the loss of important research that supports public health, economic prosperity, and even national security.
Rayfield explained the stakes for Oregon, highlighting that universities rely heavily on these funds to train students and foster innovation that benefits both urban and rural communities.
“The Trump administration’s attempt to slash critical funding for science and education programs would weaken the very foundation of our country’s leadership in science, technology, engineering and math – the same areas that power innovation, create high-paying jobs and keep our economy strong,” Rayfield said. “In Oregon, we rely on this funding to support research at our universities, help train the next generation of engineers and tech leaders and grow opportunities in rural and urban communities.”
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The coalition’s lawsuit says that the NSF’s new rules are against the law and what Congress wanted. Congress has made it clear that one of NSF’s main goals is to increase diversity in STEM fields. This policy has worked over the previous 20 years. For instance, the percentage of women and people of color with degrees or positions in science and engineering has consistently increased. By 2017, women made up over half of the profession and people of color made up more than a third.
Rayfield and the other attorneys general say that the NSF’s orders break the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act because they change long-standing rules without following the law or paying attention to what Congress says. The complaint asks the court to stop these changes from happening and give money back to research and diversity programs.
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The group also comprises attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin, in addition to Oregon. Their goal is to keep America at the top of science and technology by making sure that research, education, and equal opportunity continue to get funding.
