FOR THE MEDIA:
- All references to COGR should be to the acronym “COGR”. The association no longer uses “Council on Governmental Relations.”
- Pronunciation: “KOH-GUR.” The “O” in COGR is long.
- COGR’s Mission, Purpose, and Impact Statements
- COGR is not a registered lobbying organization with the U.S. Congress or under the U.S. tax code, and references to COGR should not imply otherwise. COGR primarily advocates to the Federal Executive Branch for effective research policy.
- Requests to be included on COGR’s Media Distribution List should be directed here.
- Requests for comment or background should be directed here.
Background Materials on Facilities & Administrative Cost Reimbursement
Social Media: Follow COGR On LinkedIn
COGR Recent Quotes & Mentions:
Inside Higher Ed: How Researchers Could Get Their Canceled NIH Grants Back: “The delay in actually hearing back on the appeals request is a place of concern,” said Krystal Toups, director of contracts and grants administration for COGR, an association of affiliated medical centers, independent research institutes and research universities. And since a new federal budget could pass in September that might include more clear guidelines about federal funding priorities, if researchers want some consideration for continuation of their grants, Toups said they should get their cases in front of the appeals committee “sooner rather than later.”
The Transmitter: Five Things to Know if Your Federal Grant Is Terminated:
If the reason for termination does not seem to apply to your research—for example, if the notice mentions a research topic that is not related to your project—be prepared to share that with your institution, says Krystal Toups, director of contracts and grants administration at COGR, a Washington, D.C.-based association of research institutions that advocates for research policy. Institutions likely rely on investigators to make that determination, Toups says, “because they know their research the best.” Researchers should also be prepared to articulate the public value of their work, Toups says, because it is another element that their institution can include in an appeal.
-----------
The termination itself can spur extra expenses, such as animal housing and care. Normally, when a grant-funded research program ends as expected, investigators can plan ahead to make sure they finish up animal experiments before their funding runs out. But when a grant is terminated unexpectedly, your animals “don’t just disappear because you don’t need them anymore,” Hope says. Even if you plan to appeal the termination, “I think you do have to prepare for the worst and start thinking through” the bills that could be charged as closeout costs, Hope says.
E&E News By Politico: Trump's Test for GOP Lawmakers: Defend Him or Local Universities: Universities have limited options to compensate for federal funding losses, said Matt Owens, president of the Council on Governmental Relations, an association of U.S. research institutes. “Unfortunately, all options to deal with federal research cuts are sub-optimal,” he said. “I hope policymakers will focus on building support for sustaining strong and growing research investments to out-compete China and other economic competitors.”
Washington Post: These Five Words Have Killed Millions in Grants and Advanced Trump's Agenda “At the time, we thought if they had legitimate cause to terminate an award, there were already pathways to do that in an appropriate way,” [Cindy Hope, Director of Costing and Financial Compliance] said. “So even if they were only going to use this judiciously, there was a concern: What if they decided not to use it judiciously? Which seems to be where we are now.”
The Chronicle of Higher Education: ‘Let’s Not Overreact': How One College’s Head of Research Is Navigating Uncertainty Under Trump (3/3/25) COGR Mention
CBS News: RFK Jr. rolls back transparency policy on Medicaid and NIH changes (2/28/25) "For decades HHS policies affecting public health and research institutions have benefitted from public stakeholder participation in the policy process. Public input is an essential element of the policy process that reflects our nation's democratic principles," [President Matt Owens] said. Read COGR’s Full Statement Here
Politico: US science is feeling the Trump chill (2/28/25): While past administrations have steered the focus of U.S. research in new directions — from nanotechnology to cancer research — those priorities were typically additive; they didn’t restrict research in other areas. Trump’s approach “will have long-term harmful consequences,” said Matt Owens, president of the Council on Government Relations, an association of academic research institutions. “One of our strengths as a nation is the federal government has invested across the board in curiosity-driven research, because over time this pays dividends,” he told Chelsea. “So an erosion of broad federal support for all areas of research will damage our ability to remain the global science and innovation leader.”
E&E News by Politico: Trump takes ‘giant wrecking ball’ to US research (2/18/24): "New administrations typically come in with their own new priorities for research, said Matt Owens, president of the Council on Government Relations, an association of academic research institutions. Previous administrations have championed everything from nanotechnology to cancer research to advanced manufacturing. But these priorities are typically additive, not aimed at restricting research in other areas, he said. The Trump administration is taking a different approach — one that “will have long-term harmful consequences,” Owens said. “One of our strengths as a nation is the federal government has invested across the board in curiosity-driven research, because over time this pays dividends,” he said. “So an erosion of broad federal support for all areas of research will damage our ability to remain the global science and innovation leader.”
NPR: NIH announces new funding policy that rattles medical researchers (2/11/25): "This is a surefire way to cripple lifesaving research and innovation. Reimbursement of facilities and administrative expenditures are part and parcel of the total costs of conducting world class research."
Washington Post: NIH cuts billions of dollars in biomedical funding, effective immediately (2/8/25): "This is a surefire way to cripple lifesaving research and innovation. The funding is “part and parcel of the total costs of conducting world class research,” Owens added. “We are carefully reviewing this policy change as it contradicts current law and policy. America’s competitors will relish this self-inflicted wound.”
Science Magazine: NIH slashes overhead payments for research, sparking outrage (2/7/25): “This is a surefire way to cripple lifesaving research and innovation. America’s competitors will relish this self-inflicted wound. We urge NIH to rescind this dangerous policy before its harms are felt by Americans.”
STAT: NIH plans to slash support for indirect research costs, sending shockwaves through science (2/7/25): Reimbursement of facilities and administrative expenditures are part and parcel of the total costs of conducting world class research. America’s competitors will relish this self-inflicted wound. We urge NIH leaders to rescind this dangerous policy before its harms are felt by Americans.”
