Seven Australian universities are set to experience significant reductions in research funding from the United States, as confirmed by the Department of Education. This cutback is part of a wider initiative by the Trump administration to limit funding for global educational institutions, including those in Australia. The affected universities include the Australian National University, University of Technology Sydney, University of New South Wales, Monash University, Macquarie University, Charles Darwin University, and University of Western Australia. The cuts are linked to President Trump’s ban on projects related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which has led to the suspension of funding for various grants and programs.
Education Minister Jason Clare remarked that while the US will selectively invest in research initiatives, he and his department will continue to advocate for the mutual benefits of US-Australia educational collaborations. This funding reduction may reach as high as $600 million across the affected institutions, with the most substantial losses anticipated in the fields of biomedical and clinical sciences.
Following a recent directive from the Trump administration, Australian researchers involved in joint initiatives with the US are required to clarify how their projects align with American domestic and foreign policy objectives through a comprehensive 36-point questionnaire, raising fears of foreign interference in research activities. The US government has indicated that its decision to pause funding stems from a desire to distance itself from “woke gender ideology” and other related themes.
The Australian National University has acknowledged that it has already lost a specific grant from US funding, making it the first institution to report such a loss publicly. Vice Chancellor Genevieve Bell confirmed this funding termination, stating the university’s commitment to supporting its researchers and continuing their projects to the best of their ability.
As Australia’s largest research partner, the US contributed approximately $386 million to Australian research efforts in 2024. The Australian Academy of Science is calling upon the government to engage collaboratively with the US in order to mitigate the adverse effects of these funding cuts. Minister Clare asserted the longstanding collaborative relationship between Australian and US research institutions, emphasising how this partnership has facilitated the development of groundbreaking technologies and solutions to global issues. He further noted that Australian universities are recognised for their high-quality research output, making them appealing partners for international collaborations.