The Department of Energy said Friday it plans to cut approximately $405 million annually in awards to colleges and universities, a move that could affect projects tied to fossil fuels, nuclear power, renewable energy, emerging technologies and the electric grid.
DOE said it was limiting the “indirect costs” of research funding — which support facilities and administrative staff — to 15 percent. That’s down from more than 30 percent, which DOE said was higher than the indirect costs in grants to local governments and nonprofits.
“The purpose of Department of Energy funding to colleges and universities is to support scientific research — not foot the bill for administrative costs and facility upgrades,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement.
“We are ensuring every dollar of taxpayer funding is being used efficiently to support research and innovation,” added Wright, who is on a multicountry tour of oil sites in the Middle East.
