Resolution on the Federal Grant Funding Chaos and the New Brunswick Campus Response

WHEREAS, federal research grants and student aid constitute a significant portion of the funding to the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus, supporting its faculty, researchers, students, and critical public service initiatives; and

WHEREAS, recent disruptions in federal funding, including related work stoppage and meeting cancellation orders, elimination of funding for certain federally funded research and other service areas, and a newly imposed reduction in the NIH indirect cost rate from Rutgers’ negotiated 57% down to 15%, threaten the University’s ability to maintain ongoing research and training projects, support faculty and student researchers, and uphold its commitment to educational and research progress; and

WHEREAS, the Trump Administration has made clear its intention to pursue further reduction or elimination of federal funding that is essential to scholarship and academic freedom through a variety of mechanisms moving forward; and

WHEREAS, the University administration already has acknowledged the need to assess and respond to these threats, and to provide interim guidance to faculty and researchers; and

WHEREAS, shared governance requires faculty, researchers, students, staff, and administrators to work together in responding to challenges that impact the University’s research mission:

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the New Brunswick Faculty Council shares the concerns expressed in the January 31, 2025 Rutgers Senate resolution, “Resolution on the Federal Grant Funding Chaos and University Response,” and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NBFC calls for two New Brunswick non-administrative faculty representatives on the ad hoc response committee recommended in that resolution, and that that representation reflects diversity of research areas and grants exhibited by New Brunswick faculty; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NBFC calls for the New Brunswick Chancellor to endorse this resolution and maintain regular, bi-directional communication with the NBFC on all matters related to federal funding changes, consistent with the practice of shared governance.