BALTIMORE, Md.
— Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, joining a coalition of 15 other states to block what they call illegal attempts to dismantle National Science Foundation (NSF) programs that fund scientific research and support diversity in STEM education.
The suit challenges NSF directives issued in April and May that eliminate initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It also seeks to stop a proposed cap on indirect research costs at 15 percent, which states argue would slash critical funding for infrastructure and laboratory services nationwide.
“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 Attorney General Brown in a statement.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, claims these policy changes violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution by undermining the NSF’s Congressionally mandated focus on diversity and unlawfully altering funding mechanisms without appropriate rulemaking.
Impact on Maryland institutions and national research
Maryland institutions are among those already affected. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) has lost nearly $4.85 million across seven terminated programs, while Bowie State University saw three major initiatives cut, including efforts to increase the number of Black male STEM educators.
The plaintiffs argue that these cuts will weaken the country’s scientific workforce, limit opportunities for underrepresented students, and disrupt research tied to public health, economic development, and national security.
Congress has directed NSF to include diversity as a “core strategy” since its creation in 1950. According to data cited in the complaint, diversity efforts have doubled the number of women in science and engineering fields between 1995 and 2017 and significantly increased participation by people of color.
NSF’s cap on indirect costs is also under scrutiny, as similar efforts at the National Institutes of Health and Department of Energy were previously struck down in federal court after lawsuits led by state attorneys general.
Attorney General Brown is joined in the lawsuit by counterparts from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.
