This NPR podcast discusses the Trump administration's proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indirect cost funding, impacting universities' research budgets. The podcast explores the structure of NIH grants (direct vs. indirect costs), the universities' concerns about the abrupt nature of the cuts and potential job losses, and the contrasting views of the NIH and universities on the justification for these cuts. A key example is Duke University's potential loss of nearly $200 million in funding. The attempted cuts were temporarily blocked by a federal judge, highlighting the significant economic and research implications for affected institutions and communities. The podcast ultimately underscores the political and economic ramifications of altering established research funding models.
