UW campus research faces uncertainty amid funding freeze

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Graduate students are facing uncertainty after the White House said a federal funding freeze remains in "full force and effect" despite it rescinding a controversial memo ordering a pause on grants and loans.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of many higher education institutions left scrambling to determine how a freeze could affect research programs.

It comes after the Trump administration reversed its proposed freeze on hundreds of billions of dollars in aid on Wednesday amid legal challenges and mounting confusion, although officials said they still planned to cut funds.

On Tuesday, officials said the federal freeze does not apply to Pell Grants and student loans, but other grant programs that support student research could be at risk.

Charles Granger, a PhD student at UW-Madison, said he's concerned his research on plastic waste in recycling may be cut off.

"A lot of uncertainty…it seems scary," said Granger. "Of course we don't really know what direction it's going. There's a lot of confusion right now."

Granger received grants from the National Science Foundation which covers a range of scientific research at universities and research institutions.

Any pause in grant approval could mean delays in funding research.

"I have a lot of coworkers who just got hired for post-doctoral or national lab positions. Do they have jobs? That was uncertain."

UW-Madison receives about $1 billion in federal aid each year. A spokesman for the campus did not respond to an interview request but referenced a message they sent students Tuesday regarding the freeze.

"Despite the current uncertainty, we believe it is appropriate for federally-funded research activities at UW–Madison to continue and students and employees supported by federal funding should continue their normal activities," said UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin.

Mnookin called the potential impacts "significant and concerning."

The White House confirmed that OMB pulled the memo Wednesday, but officials later suggested the freeze was still in effect.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a tweet, “This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the [Office of Management and Budget] memo."

Many students are fearful about what could happen to their research in the near future.

"A lot of research happens because of government funding and if it's not there, a lot of important work doesn't happen," said Andy Lee, a senior at UW-Madison.

Legal Challenges

A federal judge is poised to use a new block on President Trump's freeze on federal spending.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell said the attempt by the White House to rescind the order appeared to undercut Leavitt's follow up statements that the freeze was still in effect.

Wisconsin is one of 22 states who sued the Trump administration Tuesday.

Attorney General Josh Kaul argued comments by Leavitt suggesting the freeze is intact, despite the memo being pulled, will still cause harm and impact those who rely on funding.

"I did see the memo was rescinded, but at the same time we need to make sure the policy that was implemented is rescinded as well to ensure the freeze is discontinued," Kaul told reporters.

The case is separate from a different federal judge already put the spending pause on hold.