Court allows mass termination of NSF grants: Here's why American innovation faces a serious setback

A US district court has ruled to allow the National Science Foundation (NSF) to proceed with the mass termination of more than 1,600 grants valued at over $1 billion. The court declined to issue a preliminary injunction that would have paused the cancellations while the legal case continues.According to a press release issued by Democracy Forward, the coalition of scientific and educational organisations behind the lawsuit expressed deep disappointment in the decision but affirmed their ongoing commitment to defend the grants and the role of the NSF.Mass termination affects over 1,600 NSF grants worth more than $1 billionThe grants affected by the court ruling support a wide range of research and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education programmes.

Many of these grants aim to increase participation by women, minorities and persons with disabilities — groups identified by Congress as the largest untapped STEM talent pools in the United States.The coalition behind the legal challenge includes the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN), American Educational Research Association (AERA), American Association of University Professors (AAUP), and the United Auto Workers (UAW).

The case is American Association of Physics Teachers, et al.

v. NSF, et al.“We are as united and committed as ever to ultimately winning this case and protecting these important NSF grants,” the coalition stated. They said the Trump administration acted unlawfully by terminating the funding and attempted to usurp congressional authority.NSF's role in us innovation and congressional mandatesThe NSF's mission, mandated by Congress, includes expanding STEM participation among historically underrepresented populations to maintain US leadership in science and engineering.

The agency has long been a major source of federal funding for scientific research and education.NSF-supported research has contributed to key technologies such as the internet, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, fibre optics, cloud computing, and advanced medical imaging like MRI and fMRI. To date, NSF has supported 268 Nobel laureates during their careers.Policy change led to mass grant cancellationsAfter President Trump's inauguration, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) took over NSF operations, resulting in a shift in funding priorities.

This led to the cancellation of more than 1,600 grants worth over $1 billion.Many cancelled grants fulfilled congressional mandates aimed at increasing diversity in STEM. The coalition argues this sudden policy change violated the Administrative Procedure Act, separation of powers, and due process.Ongoing legal battle and implications for the futureThe court's decision not to block the grant terminations means many research projects face immediate disruption, with potential long-term effects on US scientific leadership and innovation.The coalition continues its legal fight to protect the NSF's critical role in American science and education. This case highlights the ongoing tension between executive policy shifts and congressional mandates for federally funded research, raising questions about the future of US science funding.