The federal government is seeking answers as to whether Australian universities with American research grants will be affected by the actions of the Trump administration. (AAP: Luis Enrique Ascui)
In short:
The federal government is asking the Trump administration for more information after Australian researchers were sent questionnaires asking them to justify American research grants.
The tertiary education union called it "blatant political interference" and the Group of Eight representative body said it was "extremely concerned".
What's next?
Major research positions within the Trump administration are yet to be filled, but may be in a position to provide further clarity once installed.
The federal government says it's pressing the United States for more information on its sweeping overhaul of research funding after Australian researchers and the tertiary education union accused the Trump Administration of "blatant foreign interference."
The administration has moved quickly to slash and suspend federally funded research grants both in the US and globally, drawing protests from thousands of scientists last week.
Now researchers and academics at Australian universities and institutions working on projects jointly funded by American agencies have been swept up in the chaos.
Last week US agencies sent some of those Australian researchers what appears to be a global notice, asking them to justify their funding, as well as a questionnaire grilling them on a host of issues — including their links with China and the Trump administration's edicts recognising only two sexes.
The document also asks them to confirm if they've received "ANY funding from the PRC" or Chinese state actors, and asks what steps they've taken against "Christian persecution" or to "protect women and to defend against gender ideology."
The National Tertiary Education Union's (NTEU) national president Alison Barnes slammed the missive, and said the Albanese government had to "guarantee Australian researchers would be protected."
"The federal government must push back on the Trump administration's blatant foreign interference in our independent research in the strongest possible terms," she said.
The NTEU's Alison Barnes said the questionnaire was foreign interference, calling on the federal government to condemn it. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
"Donald Trump's hateful agenda is racist, transphobic and misogynistic. The idea of research funding being tied to any of those values is sickening."
One researcher hit by the funding freeze, who requested anonymity to avoid any retaliation, said the uncertainty was "devastating" and a "punch to the gut."
Group of Eight voices 'extreme concern'
The Group of Eight, which represents Australia's major universities, said the freeze had already had a major impact, and the US had now "suspended or terminated research grants with six of the eight member universities."
"We are extremely concerned about the broader implications of the Trump administration's policy, not only for the future of health and medical research, but especially regarding defence collaboration," said its chief executive Vicki Thomson.
Trump funding cuts leave Australian researchers in limbo
Photo shows A researcher holds a pipette under a microscope.
She also said on social media that while the organisation had "no issue with accountability and transparency," there was "a fine line between legitimate inquiry and political ideology."
The Go8 has since written to US lawmakers and officials, saying it was "seeking urgent guidance from the US Government at the highest levels, including an extension of time to appropriately address and respond to the requirements."
It's also asked for the federal government to intervene.
A spokesperson for Education Minister Jason Clare said Australia was "engaging with the US Government to understand what these measures mean for future funding and collaboration."
"Australia and United States research institutions have a long history of cooperation that has helped develop new technologies and solution to global challenge," they said.
"It would be premature to speculate on how any changes to US research funding will impact Australia."
A spokesperson for Jason Clare said it would be premature to speculate on how Australian universities would be affected. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
"We look forward to working with US counterparts to demonstrate the benefits of collaborative research to both US and Australia's interests."
While the full ramifications of the funding freeze are not yet clear, the government will hope to get more clarity after the Trump administration fills key positions across major research institutions.
Possibility of legal challenge raised
Some legal scholars have already questioned whether the questionnaire could be vulnerable to a legal challenge in Australia — particularly because Congress hasn't appeared to play any role in the action.
Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy said any international partnerships with Australian universities were "conducted within Australia's own national research guidelines and regulations."
"We will always advocate for open and collaborative research that benefits Australia and our international partners, and work closely with the government to ensure our universities can keep doing world-class research," he said.
The Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Henderson suggested it was reasonable for the US to ask questions touching on foreign interference, saying that the higher education sector "plays an important role in combating foreign interference and influence, and safeguarding our values in the face of increasing threats from others who want to do us harm."
"The Albanese Government should provide clear guidance to universities on how to navigate these matters in line with Australia's values and national interests," she said.