U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, is defending the Trump Administration’s move to cut billions in funding from the National Institutes of Health to universities across the country. The decision would limit funding for a university’s overhead expenses to 15%. That’s pretty reasonable, according to Hawley.
“I mean, this is the same standard we apply to private charities and foundations who get government grants. We say that to them, you just can’t spend this money on overhead, buildings, people, administrators, salaries,” he told Missourinet. “You actually have to spend it on your research.”
Overhead costs include such things as infrastructure, salaries, and lab equipment.
“We don’t want you to spend a whole gob – we don’t want you spending half of (your federal grant) on the salary for somebody, or on your phone lines. I mean, sorry, you’re gonna have to get money elsewhere for that,” Hawley said. “If there is some reason why these institutions want to spend even more than 15% on overhead, I would just, I’d love to hear what that is.”
The cuts are currently being blocked by a federal judge in Massachusetts.
The Missouri Independent reports that it could result in a $100 million combined loss for the University of Missouri-Columbia and Washington University in St. Louis.
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