University of California funding reinstated by NIH: Here's why it matters for American research

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has temporarily restored research funding to the University of California (UC) system after abruptly cancelling numerous grants under the Trump administration. This reinstatement comes following a federal court order requiring the NIH, along with the US Departments of Defense and Transportation, to reinstate the funding while a lawsuit challenging the cancellations proceeds.

The reinstated grants are vital for supporting ongoing research projects at UC campuses, including Berkeley, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The sudden withdrawal of funding had raised concerns about the future of critical research and US scientific leadership. As reported by the Higher Ed Dive, officials indicated that the reinstatement process is underway but has faced administrative challenges in identifying and verifying eligible grants.

NIH and DoD face administrative hurdles in restoring funds
The preliminary injunction issued by US District Judge Rita Lin in September ordered the NIH and other agencies to reinstate the UC grants and prohibited further mass cuts during the court case. According to court filings cited by the Higher Ed Dive, the NIH has restored the majority of the funding but is still verifying details for a small number of grants.

Federal officials told the court that 61 grants required additional review due to researchers working at institutions outside the UC system. Of these, all but nine grants have been reinstated. The agency is attempting to confirm whether the researchers associated with the remaining nine grants are still employed by UC. Out-of-date agency records have complicated this process, with an expected resolution timeline pushed to mid-October and possibly delayed further by the US government shutdown.

The Department of Defense also confirmed successful restoration of funds to UC institutions. However, it reported “administrative difficulties” across components such as the National Security Agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and various military branches. Identifying relevant awards has been complicated by the diverse grants systems used by different DoD components. The court filing noted that “reinstatement has been particularly complicated, as a fiscal matter, where funding has already been deobligated,” with agencies coordinating with UC institutions to modify awards and restore funding. The DoD anticipated completing this work by October 10, as cited by the Higher Ed Dive.

Legal challenge highlights impact of funding cuts
The funding cuts by the Trump administration triggered a class-action lawsuit filed by UC researchers and faculty. The plaintiffs alleged that the mass termination of grants was illegal and jeopardised US scientific advancement. At the University of California, Los Angeles alone, NIH reportedly cut around 500 research grants worth over $500 million.

The court’s preliminary injunction aims to prevent further disruption while the case continues. The NIH’s temporary restoration of funding represents a significant step towards protecting ongoing research projects and maintaining the university system’s role in national scientific progress. The situation underscores the complexities involved when federal agencies enact large-scale funding decisions that affect multiple institutions and researchers, as highlighted by the Higher Ed Dive.