Trump administration again suspends UC Berkeley research grants

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has suspended at least 18 research grants to UC Berkeley in April, defying a federal court injunction that restricted such suspensions. The grants include a $1.4 million award for mixed-reality exhibits at the Lawrence Hall of Science showcasing Indigenous Ohlone knowledge, which the NSF had previously canceled and was ordered by a judge to restore. The university's vice chancellor of research, Katherine Yelick, notified a researcher of the suspension, citing concerns about "foreign funding" in a letter from the NSF, though the project leader, Jedda Foreman, stated the Lawrence Hall of Science had not received any foreign funding. Claudia Polsky, a UC Berkeley law professor representing the researchers, noted that the grantees were given "near-zero information" about the suspensions and expressed concern that the action may violate the court order. The University of California is seeking a $23 billion state fund to offset the loss of federal support, while the Trump administration has fired the NSF's board of scientists and proposed cutting the agency's budget.

(Source：The Associated Press)