Federal officials are still trying to snatch back millions from researchers just because their work uses the ‘wrong’ words.
In August of last year, the Trump administration straight-up asked the Supreme Court for permission to cancel active federal research grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This year, after some setbacks in court, they’re back to challenge rulings that prevented them from doing what they want.
They’re trying to reach into university labs and pull back grants that are already signed and funding real research.
What’s actually on the line
Last year, the White House told agencies like the EPA and National Science Foundation to review existing projects and cancel grants tied to DEI, accessibility or environmental justice.
Six researchers from the University of California weren’t having it. They filed a lawsuit, saying this whole clawback move was just payback for having the “wrong” ideas.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the researchers. And the judges drew a hard constitutional line, saying that while the government can decide what initiatives it wants to sponsor moving forward, it can’t weaponize the federal purse to punish recipients and suppress “viewpoints with which the government disagrees.”
Doing so, the court ruled, violates the First Amendment.
So, now what?
Now the administration wants the Supreme Court to toss out that ruling. Their whole argument? If the government’s footing the bill, they can pull the plug whenever they don’t like what you’re working on.
This isn’t only legal fine print. If the justices go along with the White House, any administration could use federal contracts to push itsown political tests. Research on things like Black maternal health, toxic exposure in frontline neighborhoods, or rural healthcare could get wiped out overnight just because a new administration has taken over the White House.
The justices are expected to decide whether to take up the case as their fall term gets underway.
If you want to keep tabs on how this shakes out, here’s where to start:
- Track federal grant decisions: Follow updates and policy watchdog reports through the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Union of Concerned Scientists.
- Know your academic rights: If you work on grant-funded projects or at public institutions, review legal toolkits on viewpoint discrimination from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).
- Follow the money: Check in on your local public university, community college, or hospital board meetings to see whether federal clawbacks are affecting local health clinics, environmental testing and student fellowships.
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