Federal cuts prompt Harvard Med to limit, not wind down, research for now
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Harvard Medical School urged researchers to keep working on their projects despite the latest wave of federal grant funding cuts.
Why it matters: Harvard University is bracing for the Trump administration's efforts to squeeze any public funding out of Harvard's coffers — consider it death by a thousand grant cuts.
Catch up quick: Officials from multiple federal agencies notified Harvard earlier this week that it would immediately terminate some $450 million in grants, citing antisemitic discrimination.
- The affected research ranges from a Department of Defense-funded project analyzing the biomarkers of sleep loss to two projects on lead exposure and other health hazards in homes, per court records.
The latest: Harvard amended its lawsuit against the Trump administration Wednesday to reflect the additional cuts, arguing that the feds are disregarding Harvard's efforts to address antisemitism and violating their own protocols for reviewing and terminating grants.
- The university allocated $250 million from its central budget to help keep affected research going, but warned that it wouldn't fill the gap left by canceled and suspended federal grants, the Harvard Crimson reported.
- The medical school warned people with federal research grants to keep working but limit spending as Harvard appeals the terminations, according to a notice sent to faculty, post-doctoral fellows and staff.
Zoom in: Medical school leaders recommended that researchers limit non-personnel spending to "essential needs only," pause new contractual commitments and equipment purchases where feasible, pause hiring and only issue "critical" subawards.
Yes, but: Medical school officials still recommend applying for federal research grants, despite Education Secretary Linda McMahon writing in a May 5 letter that Harvard should no longer seek them "since none will be provided."
What we're watching: Harvard has 30 days to appeal the terminations and has cited them in its lawsuit against the Trump administration.
- If Harvard loses those fights, it's unclear which projects would shut down first.
Dan Primack contributed reporting.