A group of U.S. states filed a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to block the Trump administration from making massive cuts to federal funding for scientific research.
The lawsuit also challenges the elimination of programs focused on increasing diversity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
The attorneys general of 16 states, including New York, California, Illinois, and New Jersey, say the Trump administration lacks the power to cap research funding and eliminate diversity programs provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that were mandated by Congress.
Earlier this month, 13 major U.S. universities sued over NSF's decision to cap reimbursement for indirect research costs at 15%. This mirrored funding cuts at the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Department of Energy that judges have temporarily blocked.
Wednesday's lawsuit also challenges the cap at NSF along with the elimination of programs designed to boost the participation of women, minorities and people with disabilities in STEM fields.
The states claim that the reimbursement cap would devastate scientific research at universities throughout the country. They also say both efforts could cause the U.S. to lose its position as a global leader in STEM research.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said people use technology made possible by NSF funding every time they go online, scan a barcode at a store, or get an MRI scan.
The states claim the cap and the elimination of diversity programs violate a federal law barring "arbitrary and capricious" actions by agencies. They also claim it violates the constitutional separation of powers by encroaching on funding decisions made by Congress.
The White House has proposed slashing NSF's $8.8 billion budget by more than 55%, and said it plans to restructure and drastically downsize the agency.