The federal agency would have reduced spending by $400 million.
District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Energy (DOE) this past week, preventing them from enacting funding cuts to university research facilities.
The Energy Department recently announced that it would impose a 15 percent reimbursement rate for all indirect research costs at government-funded research facilities, which it says will cut $400 million in annual spending and bring “greater transparency and efficiency” to federal spending.
A group of universities, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and California Institute of Technology, sued the Energy Department last week to block this action, and Judge Burroughs agreed to temporarily prevent it as she continues reviewing their lawsuit. She has not ruled out issuing a longer-term preliminary injunction if she finds the groups’ argument is likely to succeed in court.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Judge Burroughs to be discerning in her review of the lawsuit to stop the Energy Department from cutting federal research grants.
- For wisdom for Secretary Scott Wright as he heads the Energy Department.
- For the president and his Cabinet as they seek to reduce government spending.
Sources: USA Today, Jurist
