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Limits on Indirect Costs in Federal Research Grants for Universities

This new law aims to cap the administrative costs universities can charge on federal research grants. The goal is to ensure more taxpayer money for scientific research goes directly to the research itself, rather than administrative overhead. Citizens can expect greater efficiency in public spending on science.
Key points
Universities will be limited in charging indirect costs on federal research grants to the average rate of private research awards.
The Office of Management and Budget will annually determine the average indirect cost rate for private research awards.
A study will be conducted on how federal and private research grants cover administrative costs, including those related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Status: Introduced
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Additional Information
Print number: 119_HR_420
Sponsor: Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
Process start date: 2025-01-15
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure — full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source—always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Federal Grant Accountability Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 119_HR_420.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2025-01-15.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Universities will be limited in charging indirect costs on federal research grants to the average rate of private research awards.
  • The Office of Management and Budget will annually determine the average indirect cost rate for private research awards.
  • A study will be conducted on how federal and private research grants cover administrative costs, including those related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Introduced.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-22.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know—that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Education Public Investments