The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has joined a lawsuit against the Department of Defense (DOD) over funding cuts related to indirect costs for military-based research.
The institution joins a group of 11 other universities, including Brown University in Rhode Island, and three higher education organizations that filed the complaint against the DOD on Monday.
Boston University supported the lawsuit as a member of the Association of American Universities.
As of Tuesday, a federal judge had approved a temporary restraining order to halt the implementation of the cuts.
“We underscore that MIT drives US national security through its cutting-edge research, defense innovation and substantial contributions to military leadership,” said Kimberly Allen, a spokesperson for MIT, in an email.
DOD declined to comment because it is ongoing litigation. Boston University didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
“DOD’s latest action would have an immediate and dire effect on our national security by disrupting research designed to help our military,” the group of those suing said in a statement released Monday.
Read more: MIT sues federal science agency over cuts to ‘crucial research’
The lawsuit comes in response to the DOD’s announcement that it would limit facilities and administrative reimbursements to a 15% cap for all DOD research grants. Facilities and administrative costs include maintenance and administrative staff, research facilities and safety expenses, among others, which the group cites as being essential costs in maintaining the country’s status as a leader in military technology research.
Initially proposed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in a memo sent on May 14, the cuts are set to save the DOD $900 million per year, according to Hegseth.
According to court filings, MIT received $107 million in funding from the DOD in the 2024 fiscal year. They estimate that a 15% cap on Facilities and administrative expenses by the DOD would result in an estimated loss of $21 million annually. MIT has expressed it intends to apply for new funding awards from the DOD in addition to pending funding proposals.
MIT is also involved in lawsuits against other federal organizations over cuts to indirect costs in other departments, namely the National Institute of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Science Foundation.
