July 4, 2025

Trump Administration 2025

Key Executive Orders and Policies Affecting Academic Research Funding

This blog post summarizes the most significant Trump administration executive orders and federal agency actions from 2025 that directly impact academic research funding in the United States. The focus is on indirect cost caps, agency policy shifts, and other regulatory changes relevant to universities and research administrators. All official sources are directly linked for reference.

Executive Summary

Since January 2025, the Trump administration has enacted sweeping changes to federal research funding, including:

• Capping indirect cost rates for universities at major agencies (NIH, NSF, DOE, DOD) to 15%, with ongoing legal challenges and temporary injunctions.
• Pausing or freezing new federal research grants at several agencies during policy reviews.
• Restricting federal funding for certain research areas, including gain-of-function biological research and projects involving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or “gender ideology.”
• Mandating new standards for scientific integrity and transparency in federally funded research.

These changes have created significant uncertainty for researchers and administrators, with many policies currently under court review or subject to further agency guidance.

Most Recent and Important Executive Orders

1. Executive Order: Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research

Read the full text (whitehouse.gov)

• Date: May 5, 2025
• Summary:
  • Prohibits federal funding for “dangerous gain-of-function” research, especially in countries deemed to lack adequate biosafety oversight (e.g., China).
  • Directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to establish new guidance for agencies to immediately end funding for such research.
  • Mandates new compliance and reporting requirements for institutions receiving federal life-science research funds.
  • Non-compliance can result in immediate revocation of funding and up to a 5-year ban on future federal grants.
• Implications:
  • Universities must review all federally funded life-science research for compliance.
  • International collaborations in certain fields face heightened scrutiny and possible funding loss.
  • New reporting and certification requirements increase administrative burden for research offices.

2. Executive Order: Restoring Gold Standard Science

Read the full text (whitehouse.gov)

• Date: May 23, 2025
• Summary:
  • Reinstates and expands “scientific integrity” policies from Trump’s first term.
  • Requires all federal agencies to update their scientific integrity policies to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and unbiased peer review.
  • Mandates public disclosure of influential scientific data and models, with exceptions for national security and proprietary information.
  • Directs agencies to review and potentially rescind policies enacted between January 2021 and January 2025 that are inconsistent with this order.
• Implications:
  • Agencies and grantees must adapt to new standards for data transparency and reporting.
  • Policies related to DEI and climate science may be rolled back or revised.
  • Increased scrutiny of research methodologies and assumptions in federally funded projects.

Indirect Cost Caps: Agency-by-Agency Status (as of July 2025)

• Background:
  • The 15% cap is a significant reduction from previous rates (typically 27–30%).
  • These caps would dramatically reduce the funds universities receive for essential research infrastructure and administration.
  • All major caps are currently blocked or paused due to court orders, but the situation remains fluid and subject to appeal[5][1][4].

Other Notable Policy Changes

• Grant Freezes and Delays:
  • Early 2025 saw a temporary freeze on new federal research grants at NIH, NSF, and other agencies during policy reviews, causing delays in funding cycles and uncertainty for researchers[6][7][8].
• Restrictions on Research Topics:
  • Executive orders and agency guidance have banned or restricted funding for research involving DEI, “gender ideology,” and certain green energy projects[6][9][10].
• Legal Landscape:
  • Multiple lawsuits by universities and higher education groups have resulted in temporary restraining orders and nationwide injunctions against the new indirect cost caps and some funding restrictions[7][5][1][4].
• Agency Guidance:
  • Agencies are issuing frequent updates and compliance notices as court decisions and policy reviews evolve. Research administrators should monitor agency websites and legal developments closely[11][12][4].

Analysis: What This Means for Academic Research

• Short-Term:

  • Grant application and award processes are slower and more uncertain.
  • Research offices must devote more resources to compliance, legal review, and policy monitoring.
  • Some research areas (e.g., international collaborations, DEI, climate science) face heightened risk of funding loss.

• Long-Term:

  • If indirect cost caps are upheld, universities may need to cut research support staff, close labs, or seek alternative funding.
  • The evolving legal landscape means policies could change rapidly; institutions must remain agile and informed.
  • The focus on “gold standard science” and transparency may increase administrative workload but could also improve public trust in federally funded research.

Official Resources and Further Reading

• 2025 Trump Executive Orders (Federal Register)
• Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research (whitehouse.gov)
• Restoring Gold Standard Science (whitehouse.gov)

This blog is maintained by a Atom, a grant discovery startup serving U.S. universities. We provide tailored, AI-powered funding suggestions and policy updates for research administrators and faculty. For the latest, subscribe to our newsletter or contact our team for custom briefings.

[1] https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/advisories/2025/02/impact-of-trump-directives-on-scientific-research-in-the-us

[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2025/02/10/what-the-nih-cut-to-indirect-cost-payments-could-cost-red-states/

[3] https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2025/04/14/doe-puts-15-cap-universities-indirect-research

[4] https://research.uky.edu/federal-changes-2025

[5] https://www.highereddive.com/news/tracking-the-trump-administrations-moves-to-cap-indirect-research-funding/751123/

[6] https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2025/02/03/how-trumps-executive-orders-are-disrupting

[7] https://atomgrants.com/blog/2025-federal-grant-policy-changes

[8] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01830-5

[9] https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/fact-sheet/ overview-of-president-trumps-executive-actions-on-global-health/

[10] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00780-2

[11] https://research.iastate.edu/for-researchers/2025-federal-funding-guidance/

[12] https://www.nsf.gov/executive-orders

[13] https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders/donald-trump/2025

[14] https://www.hklaw.com/en/general-pages/trumps-2025-executive-orders-chart

[15] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/restoring-gold-standard-science/

[16] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/improving-the-safety-and-security-of-biological-research/

[17] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15zypvgxz5o

[18] https://ballotpedia.org/Donald_Trump's_executive_orders_and_actions,_2025

[19] https://www.grants.nih.gov/news-events/nih-extramural-nexus-news/2025

[20] https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-academics-call-reforms-research-overhead-payments-hoping-avoid-drastic-cuts