NJ Sues Trump Admin Over Cuts to Diversity and Research Funding in STEM

NEW JERSEY - New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a coalition of 16 state attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration, opposing recent decisions by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to eliminate diversity-focused programs and significantly reduce allowable research-related expenditures. The suit, filed in response to directives issued in April and May 2025, alleges that the NSF's actions threaten to undermine the nation's scientific capacity and violate federal law.

The lawsuit follows two key moves by the NSF: on April 18, the agency began terminating ongoing initiatives designed to increase representation of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics); and on May 2, it imposed a 15 percent cap on indirect costs for NSF-funded research projects. These costs typically cover infrastructure such as lab space, equipment, and administrative support.

Attorney General Platkin and his counterparts argue that these decisions endanger the United States’ position as a global leader in science and innovation by curtailing efforts that have historically diversified the STEM workforce and by restricting operational resources essential to groundbreaking research. According to the complaint, the NSF’s move disregards Congressional intent, violates the Administrative Procedure Act, and fails to follow proper rulemaking procedures.

“Gutting funding for the development of the STEM field will devastate New Jersey’s world-class research universities, the many high-tech companies that call our state home, and our future generations of STEM workers,” said Attorney General Platkin. “These unlawful cuts will deeply impact the groundbreaking research and development that takes place in New Jersey every single day and not only hurt our state but our country, as foreign nations take advantage of these illegal actions by the Trump Administration. We are taking the Administration to court to stop this clear assault on a critical field in our state.”

The lawsuit highlights the importance of NSF's role since its inception in 1950 in supporting scientific advancement and addressing national challenges—from artificial intelligence to energy and environmental sustainability. The attorneys general emphasize that the NSF’s mission includes, by law, a core strategy to increase participation among underrepresented groups in STEM.

Between 1995 and 2017, the number of women in science and engineering fields doubled, and representation of people of color increased from 15 percent to 35 percent, achievements attributed in part to NSF diversity initiatives now targeted for elimination. According to the suit, dozens of projects have already been canceled as a result of the April directive.

Additionally, the cap on indirect costs threatens university research programs by limiting reimbursement for infrastructure and operational needs. The lawsuit contends this would force institutions to scale back or halt critical projects, eliminate jobs, and potentially jeopardize research related to national security, public health, and economic development.

The plaintiffs point to similar attempts to cap indirect costs at the National Institutes of Health and Department of Energy, which were previously blocked by federal courts. Those decisions followed legal challenges also supported by Attorney General Platkin and several of the same attorneys general involved in the current case.

States joining New Jersey in the lawsuit include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. The coalition seeks a court ruling that would prevent the NSF from implementing the challenged directives and reaffirm the agency’s obligation to uphold Congressionally-mandated goals.

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