American universities say life -saving medical research is threatened by new federal financing discounts of $ 4 billion a year announced by the Trump administration.

The National Health Institutes (NIH), which spends approximately $ 50 billion annually, has released, guidance The saying that it will reduce “indirect” support on Monday to 15 percent of the current average of 27 percent and in some cases above 60 percent. Funding covers the administrative costs of research projects.

The National Health Institutes said that “it was necessary to ensure that the largest possible number of money is heading towards the costs of direct scientific research instead of administrative expenditures.”

But universities argue that they depend on this financing to build and preserve laboratories and coverage costs. They say raising tuition fees or recruitment of additional students will not be sufficient to cover the gap.

The American Medical Colleges Association warned that the cuts would be done “Reduces the research ability of the nation, slows scientific progress and depriving patients, families and societies throughout the country of new treatments, diagnoses and preventive interventions. “

“This will be destroyed and the intestinal research will be. Without indirect cost recovery, universities and hospitals will not be able to manage many of the most important research programs,” said Nick Derx, head of the New York Academy of Sciences.

American universities are already facing a temporary freezing of federal financing announced by President Donald Trump, as well as a ban on diversity and the work of “environmental justice”, and achieves alleged anti -Semitism on campus and new endowment tax threats.

Although the executive order to freeze all grants was canceled after a legal challenge last month, universities are now not sure whether the financing will continue.

“It is a purposeful chaos. People were told to stop their research, and some faculty members were told that they should launch post -doctorate and close their laboratories, which means that time sensitive materials will not be used,” said Tod Wolfson, President of the American University Professors Association.

Adam Power, a student of doctoral science at Illinois University in Urbana Champin, said that he will only know the payment day next week whether he will receive the next monthly living allowance now after the funding of the Fellowship of the National Science Foundation has been asked.

His research focuses on heat waves physics and how it affects crops and people and demand for energy. But he is afraid that the subject of the climate, in addition to his proposal to help keep scientists in his field, endanger his grace. Climate, diversity, shares and inclusion programs have been targeted by the Trump administration.

“After freezing, I was reeling and the crazy group chat was a little bit,” he says.

“I can imagine a situation if they control F and want to cancel the grant, and they will reach a method.”

Harold Pharmos, former head of the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, a professor at Will Cornell Medical College, said up to two weeks of uncertainty will greatly delay the meetings for research planning, review grant requests and delay clinical experiences.

“It doesn’t take a long time before things are really chaotic,” he said. “It is worrying because money is narrow and may lead to real setbacks of science and the audience that is expected to have results.”

The National Health Institutes are among the largest federal funds for research, with the largest stake in research universities led by Johns Hopkins and the University of California.

While some of the largest recipients have other sources of research and large endowments, others are more likely at a time when students’ requests are slowed down.

“Until the temporary stop of critical scientific research is a mistake that defeats itself. If you are racing about the neck and neck, the exit from the path for any time is a gift to your competitors,” said Barbara Snyder, President of the American Universities Association, an alliance of leading research universities.

Lin Pacirayla, head of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, warned that the broader threat to “government infiltration and unjustified political influence” has risked undermining “the safety of American higher education and scientific research.”

“The freezing indicates an increased politicization of higher education,” she said.

“[It] The risks in raising scientific progress and obstructing life -saving research. “

Power, a student in Illinois, is looking for academic jobs that focus on private universities that may have greater resources than two years.

He said, “It was difficult.” “The labor market is dry for climate projects because it is not clear how clear the Trump administration is ready to go.”