On June 30, 2025, Judge Allison D. Burroughs of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted a motion submitted by the government to convert the nationwide preliminary injunction issued on May 15, 2025 into a final judgment vacating the DOE Rate Cap Policy and its applicability to institutions of higher education nationwide. The government will have 60 days to appeal the decision and is expected to do so.
The Association of American Universities has requested the U.S. Department of Energy to withdraw five Direct Final Rules issued on May 16, 2025, citing concerns over increased burden and confusion for students, staff, and faculty at U.S. colleges and universities.
The Energy Sciences Coalition urges Congress to maintain $500 million in funding for ARPA-E in FY 2026, highlighting its proven success in advancing innovative energy technologies and supporting the commercialization of high-risk, high-reward projects that strengthen U.S. economic and energy security.
President Trump’s FY26 budget proposal, if adopted, would destroy America’s longstanding role as the global leader in science and innovation – along with the countless health, security, and economic benefits that flow from that leadership.
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The Energy Sciences Coalition urges Congress to reject proposed cuts to the Department of Energy Office of Science, warning that reduced funding would harm U.S. scientific leadership and innovation, and instead recommends increasing the budget to $9.5 billion for FY 2026.
An advocacy brief focused on the critical role of ARPA-E in bolstering U.S. energy innovation leadership.
On May 15, 2025, Judge Allison D. Burroughs issued a nationwide preliminary injunction in the AAU-ACE-APLU case, which continues to prevent the DOE from implementing a cut to the facilities and administrative (F&A) cost reimbursement rate.
AAU has issued a statement regarding provisions slashing research funding in the newly released FY26 Presidential Budget Request.
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U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) that covers all institutions in all states nationwide in the case filed by AAU, APLU, ACE, and nine impacted higher education institutions against the U.S. Department of Energy.
This page will be updated regularly to provide new information as it becomes available regarding the AAU-ACE-APLU legal action contesting the Department of Energy cutting reimbursement rates to 15%.