ANU loses US funding: VC announces

The young Trump administration had already suspended or terminated research grants at six Australian universities over its eight weeks in office.

Australian National University (ANU) Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Genevieve Bell. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The United States has stripped funding from an Australian National University research project, making it at least the seventh institution to have project funding suspended or terminated by the new Trump administration.

ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell revealed the move, which comes after a 36-point “show cause” questionnaire was sent to Australian researchers who receive funding from US agencies with questions about their links to China and their alignment with Donald Trump’s executive order on there being only two-sexes.

“It is hard to ignore the broader contexts in which we are operating – a looming federal election and a growing complexity of geo-political forces impacting us here in Australia. We have had the first termination of funding from the United States,” Professor Bell said in a letter to the university community this week.

The university received a letter from the US government this week indicating an intent to terminate funding related to one research project.

“We are committed to supporting our researchers and the work we do here, in all the ways we can,” Professor Bell said.

ANU has active US-funded research grants spread across several colleges at ANU. The University said it would work with affected researchers to develop appropriate “remediation plans”.

The Trump administration has already suspended or terminated research grants at six other Australian universities over its eight weeks in office.

In the letter, the besieged vice-chancellor also lamented a “four-month negative media campaign attacking our university” and unprecedented scrutiny of her leadership, as she tried to assuage the numerous concerns of students and staff.

Professor Bell has faced calls to resign amid unease among staff about a $250 million budget cut and proposed restructure, and for having a second paid role at tech company Intel.

She also came under pressure for management’s handling of anti-Semitism at the Canberra campus, and more recently, when it was revealed in senate estimates that contracts had been awarded to a consulting firm operated by chancellor Julie Bishop’s long-time political staffer.

Last week, reports emerged about the School of Cybernetics, which she co-founded, being immune from cost-cutting exercises.

“Yesterday morning, I returned to the College again to see my extraordinary colleagues and friends in the School of Cybernetics, the school I helped co-found in 2020. I wish it had been a happier visit because I am so proud of them and their work and the culture they have built and continue to nurture there,” she wrote to the school community on Wednesday.

“Over the weekend, the four-month negative media campaign attacking our university turned to the ANU College of Systems and Society, naming individual staff,” adding it would cause harm to their reputation including attracting future talent, investment and funding streams.

“ANU is being portrayed as a place that isn’t what I know it to be, or what its purpose is as the national university and I also want to thank and acknowledge the colleagues and students who continue to support ANU.”

She said she had faced intense pressure and scrutiny “unlike anything that my predecessors ever faced” with many asking her why she would stay in the job.

“And the honest answer is, I fundamentally believe in ANU and the better future we are creating here. I remain committed to doing my best for our national university and showing up each and every day.”

“Our purpose, our north star, our grounding truth is clear and unchanged from the original ANU Act, enshrined in Federal legislation.”

Earlier this year, ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop expressed “absolute confidence” in Professor Bell.