HONOLULU, May 28, 2025 — Hawai‘i Attorney General Anne Lopez is leading a coalition of 16 states in a lawsuit aimed at stopping what officials call an unlawful attempt by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to slash critical funding and programs supporting scientific research and diversity in STEM fields.
Filed in the U.S. District Court, the lawsuit challenges two key policy changes announced by the NSF: the termination of programs designed to expand participation of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and the imposition of a 15% cap on indirect cost recovery for federally funded research. Both moves, the coalition argues, threaten the vitality of American scientific innovation and violate federal law.
“Efforts to cut National Science Foundation programs are an attack on both scientific progress and the hard-won strides made toward opening doors for underrepresented communities in STEM,” said Attorney General Lopez. “These policies contradict Congress’ mandate and risk setting our nation’s scientific leadership back a generation.”
“Washington’s college and university system is at the forefront of critical research and emerging technologies, and relies heavily on support from the National Science Foundation,” said Washington State Nick Brown Brown. “Congress created the NSF to promote the progress of science and has recognized America’s need for a preeminent STEM workforce. The Trump administration does not have the authority to unilaterally cut NSF grants and their terminations threaten our national security and economic dominance.”
“The Trump Administration is arbitrarily and lawlessly knee-capping scientific advancement in our country. These cuts hit Connecticut hard. We’re suing to stop Donald Trump from breaking the law, and to protect millions of dollars in jobs and groundbreaking scientific research nationwide,” said Connecticut Attorney General Tong.
Impact on the University of Hawai‘i and Beyond
The University of Hawai‘i (UH), one of the top 20% of public research institutions in the U.S., is among the universities that stand to suffer significantly. In fiscal year 2023, UH received $28.7 million in NSF funding. The newly proposed cap on indirect costs—expenses like laboratory space, equipment, and support staff—would cost the university an estimated $5.3 million annually, directly threatening research infrastructure and staffing.
“The NSF’s proposed 15% cap on indirect cost recovery would be devastating to UH’s research and educational mission,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “Recovering the true costs of research is essential to advancing work that benefits Hawai‘i, drives our economy, and addresses global challenges.”
The changes also endanger long-standing programs that promote diversity in STEM. The April 18 directive from NSF has already led to the cancellation of numerous initiatives, including UH-based efforts to increase representation of Native Hawaiians, women, and underserved youth in scientific fields.
A Broader Threat to U.S. Leadership
Governor Josh Green, M.D., denounced the federal directives as “an unprecedented attack on science,” noting that the cuts not only undermine national public health and economic stability but also retaliate against the very institutions that have historically powered American innovation.
“Now they are assaulting opportunities for talented young people in Hawai‘i to pursue careers in science,” said Governor Green. “This is not only illegal but will set the nation back a generation.”
“Gutting funding for the development of the STEM field will devastate New Jersey’s world-class research universities, the many high-tech companies that call our state home, and our future generations of STEM workers,” said New Jersey Attorney General Platkin. “These unlawful cuts will deeply impact the groundbreaking research and development that takes place in New Jersey every single day and not only hurt our state but our country, as foreign nations take advantage of these illegal actions by the Trump Administration. We are taking the Administration to court to stop this clear assault on a critical field in our state.”
“Every time we go online, scan a barcode at checkout, or get an MRI, we use technology made possible by the National Science Foundation,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “This administration’s attacks on basic science and essential efforts to ensure diversity in STEM will weaken our economy and our national security. Putting politics over science will only set our country back, and I will continue to fight to protect critical scientific research and education.”
The coalition asserts that the NSF’s new rules violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution by bypassing public input and disregarding Congressional intent. Congress has long directed the NSF to prioritize inclusive participation in STEM and to fully fund the infrastructure necessary for high-impact research.
A National Coalition in Defense of Science
The lawsuit, New York & Hawai‘i, et al. v. National Science Foundation, et al., was spearheaded by Attorneys General Lopez of Hawai‘i and Letitia James of New York. It includes support from 14 other attorneys general representing California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.
As the case proceeds, the coalition seeks a court ruling to block implementation of the NSF’s policies and to reaffirm the nation’s commitment to scientific research, educational opportunity, and diversity in STEM.
“Once again, I am suing to stop the Trump administration from arbitrarily and illegally attempting to cut congressionally approved funding, including for our state universities and colleges,” said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. “This time, the administration is targeting investments in our ability to compete in the global economy, harming future job creation and putting our long-term health and safety at risk. I will continue to step up to defend our state whenever illegal federal action threatens Coloradans.”
“The Trump administration is unlawfully terminating millions in science funding from Maryland
universities like Bowie State and UMBC, eliminating opportunities for students from historically
marginalized communities to get well-paying jobs in STEM fields,” said Maryland Attorney General
Brown. “We’re taking legal action to stop these devastating cuts so our universities can continue
to train the next generation of scientists and engineers who will strengthen our economy, protect
public health, and produce groundbreaking research.”
