Federal Research Funding for Colleges and Universities: The Role of Indirect Costs

Facilities and administrative (F&A) costs have received ongoing scrutiny from President Trump and Congress during the annual budget and appropriations process.

The president has regularly called for caps to be placed on F&A reimbursements for research grants, particularly for National Institutes of Health and Department of Agriculture grants. Congressional appropriators have generally overruled the president’s requests; however, his proposals do have some support.

To help you talk about the issue with your members of Congress and campus community, this short video charts the relationship between colleges and universities and federal research agencies and the very necessary expenses that often fall under the “indirect cost” umbrella.

Also see:

Excellence in Research: The Funding Model, F&A Reimbursement, and Why the System Works
Council on Government Relations