Australia’s top universities say U.S. funding at risk due to Trump crackdown

13/3/2025 14:35

Australia's top universities said on Thursday the Trump administration had cut U.S. funding to some of its researchers and asked others who receive U.S. government financial support to prove their work was aligned with American interests.



The Group of Eight, a coalition of Australia's most research-intensive universities, said the action could jeopardise crucial medical and defence research in the country.



Some researchers who receive funding from U.S. federal agencies had been asked to assess their work's compliance with U.S. President Donald Trump's agenda in a 36-point questionnaire, said the universities.



The survey included questions on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that the Trump administration has been seeking to end. In some cases, recipients were only given 48 hours to respond, the Group of Eight said.



"We are extremely concerned about the broader implications of the Trump administration’s policy, not only for the future of health and medical research, but especially regarding defence collaboration," the Group of Eight CEO Vicki Thomson said in a statement to Reuters.



The Group of Eight has sought Australian government intervention and is seeking urgent guidance from the U.S. government, including a time extension to respond to the questionnaire, the statement said.