University employees in several major cities took to the streets Wednesday in a “national day of action” protesting President Donald Trump’s cut to indirect federal research funds.
The movement, led by the National Education Association, the American Association of University Professors and several unions, saw events in Washington, D.C., New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta and Boston, among other locations, according to Labor for Higher Education. The National Institute of Health recently updated its indirect cost guidance, limiting funding from federal research grants that is permitted to be used by institutions for non-research purposes to 15% of the total grant.
“The GOP is mounting these attacks by targeting workers in the higher ed sector through imposing a cap on indirect costs on grants across the NIH, freezing funding for crucial research, and threatening academic workers across the country,” the event description reads. “Labor for Higher Education, a coalition of unions representing higher ed workers, is organizing a national day of action on 2/19 to protest these reckless attacks.”
TODAY! Workers are coming together to fight back in 15+ cities: Hands off our healthcare, research, and jobs! Join us. This is just the beginning of taking back our democracy.https://t.co/Qv97IkiKsH
— American Association of University Professors (@AAUP) February 19, 2025
The indirect funding cap is meant to limit the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars, as the funds were not strictly monitored and could be used towards any “indirect costs” an institution sees fit, including to pay administrators. The Trump administration has taken dozens of executive actions to limit wasteful spending in the federal government, with several agencies, such as the Department of Education, actively removing “unnecessary” programs, such as those associated with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Hundreds of workers and students attended the demonstrations nationwide, according to various Bluesky posts from Higher Education Labor United.
Seattle showed UP! 💥 500 energized workers & students, @WAaflcio, and @RepJayapal rallied with unions from campuses & across the city to say: Hands off our healthcare, research, and jobs!
We won’t let billionaires gut higher ed & medical research to fund their tax cuts.
#LaborForHigherEd
— Higher Education Labor United (HELU) (@higheredlabor.bsky.social) February 19, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The coalition justified their outrage by linking to examples of some of Trump’s recent moves in the education sector on their website. One example listed was the president’s promise to put an end to violent campus protests by deporting foreign students that engage in illegal demonstrations and allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to enter schools in order to deport illegal immigrants. Another cited his commitment to protecting women’s sports by banning males from competing on female teams. (RELATED: Left-Leaning Education Orgs Urge Schools To ‘Vigorously’ Disobey Trump Admin’s DEI Directive)
The groups have planned an additional demonstration at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 25, according to their website.
Labor for Higher Education did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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