Important Federal Transition Update, 2-11-25

Dear students, faculty and staff,

We want to provide our campus community with an important update regarding the ongoing legal challenges to the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) recent policy change that significantly limits indirect cost payments for research institutions.

With support from this campus, Colorado joined a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in a lawsuit on Monday to block the policy, citing severe financial harm to universities, medical centers, and research institutions. Within hours, a district judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) pausing the policy’s implementation within these states. This ruling ensures that, for now, research institutions in the affected states will not be subject to the 15% cap on indirect cost payments. The pause remains in effect until further court action, with a hearing scheduled for February 21.

Additionally, two separate lawsuits representing public and private universities and hospitals have been filed to block the policy nationwide. This morning, the judge responded by issuing another temporary restraining order, extending the injunction across the entire country.

Both cases in which a TRO has been issued have a hearing currently scheduled for the morning of Friday, February 21, 2025, at which time the court will be considering arguments on whether a permanent injunction should be issued. 

We will continue to monitor these legal proceedings closely and provide updates as the situation evolves. In the meantime, continue to robustly pursue your research activities and our research mission, and please reach out to us with any questions using this online form.  

We stand with the research community and will continue to advocate for policies that drive scientific progress and innovation, leading to life-changing and life-saving advancements.

Don Elliman
Chancellor