Money trouble: Federal science grants hit at UC Berkeley over funding claims

Federal agencies have suddenly blocked nearly twenty-one million dollars in science grants at the University of California, Berkeley. The reason given? Some researchers did not tell the government about outside money they received, mostly from friendly countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Switzerland. But several researchers insist they never took a penny from those places. Markita Landry, a chemistry professor working on plants that might survive climate change, found out about the freeze while she was already two-thirds through a six-hundred-thousand-dollar award. The National Science Foundation told her she had undisclosed funds from the UK, yet Landry holds American, Canadian, and Bolivian passports and says no British money ever crossed her path. Projects like hers—using CRISPR gene editing on barley and corn—are usually seen as safe research, yet they now sit in limbo. International money in science is normal and should come with full disclosure. The rules say researchers must list any support they get, whether from home or abroad, so reviewers can judge the work fairly. But what exactly triggered the freeze remains unclear. The federal agency refuses to share its evidence or explain why it suspects Berkeley specifically. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has pushed new rules giving political appointees extra power over who gets federal research dollars. Critics warn this could turn grant decisions into political games rather than scientific ones.

Last year, after similar accusations, hundreds of grants nationwide were abruptly canceled, then partly restored after a court fight. Scientists say the rollercoaster has left labs hesitant to explore hot-button topics or hire new staff. Ari Krakowski, who ran an exhibit built with Indigenous youth, insists no foreign cash went into that project. Still, the NSF letter called Berkeley’s handling of funding “misconduct” and suggested no quick fix exists. The harsh language reflects growing tension between basic research and government priorities. Even Nobel-winning projects and plant-breeding efforts now face delays. The total loss, while large in dollar terms, remains small compared to Berkeley’s four-billion-dollar budget. Yet the sudden clampdown may signal a new phase. Last week, Nature reported the NSF has also limited funds at Harvard, Princeton, Duke, and Yale. Officials worry the next step could be even tighter controls: a White House plan to let administration loyalists overrule expert reviewers when deciding which studies get money. Scientists describe a familiar fear returning—random cuts, vague rules, and the sense that their work could be canceled without warning.

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