UC Berkeley's $1.4M Ohlone exhibit grant frozen amid NSF funding crackdown
The University of California is facing fresh uncertainty after the National Science Foundation (NSF) suspended at least 18 research grants to UC Berkeley last month. The move follows a broader pattern of federal funding cuts, including a $1.4-million grant for Indigenous Ohlone exhibits, despite a court order reinstating similar projects. Researchers are now challenging these reversals in a class-action lawsuit while the university seeks alternative funding solutions. The latest suspensions come after the NSF sent UC Berkeley a letter citing unspecified concerns about 'foreign funding.' The university, which secured $525 million in NSF grants for the 2024-25 budget year, has called the cancellations unreliable and disruptive. Among the halted projects is a $1.4-million initiative at the Lawrence Hall of Science, designed to create mixed-reality exhibits centred on Ohlone Indigenous knowledge.
A federal judge had previously issued a preliminary injunction to restore grants cancelled by the NSF, EPA, and NEH—including those for Ohlone-focused exhibits. The recent suspension of the same grant may now violate that court order. The NSF’s actions mirror a wider trend: under the Trump administration, nearly 2,000 grants nationwide were terminated, many targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
In response, UC researchers have joined a class-action lawsuit to contest the reversals. Meanwhile, the university is pushing for a state-backed solution, supporting a bill to establish a $23-billion fund for scientific research in California. Officials argue that inconsistent federal support is forcing them to explore new financial avenues to sustain their research enterprise. The grant suspensions leave UC Berkeley’s projects in limbo, with legal challenges and state funding proposals now under consideration. If successful, the $23-billion research fund could provide stability beyond federal uncertainties. For now, affected researchers must wait as the lawsuit and legislative efforts unfold.
