Wildfire and water research grants saved as Trump EPA permanently restores $19 million to UC

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Set us as preferred The Environmental Protection Agency agreed to permanently restore about $19 million in University of California research grants, including studies into wildfire-smoke health effects and water management, that it canceled, according to a settlement filed in federal court Wednesday.The settlement would resolve one part of a broader lawsuit, brought by a legal team that includes UC law school professors and additional attorneys, challenging roughly $2 billion in funding cuts across seven federal agencies.Wednesday’s deal covers 24 research grants, including projects at UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley.The agreement still needs the approval of U.S.

District Judge Rita Lin, who previously ruled against the Trump administration in the case.Researchers’ claims against the six other agencies would continue.The EPA already reinstated the grants after Lin issued a preliminary injunction June 23, 2025.The settlement would commit the agency to funding the grants through their remaining terms, including eligible extensions, as long as recipients meet their grant requirements.

For researchers, that would reduce the risk of another funding cutoff disrupting their work while the broader legal battle continues.The agreement says the EPA “will not terminate, indefinitely suspend, or disallow costs for a covered grant.” The agency still could cancel funding if recipients violate their grant terms, but it would have to provide an individualized explanation.The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court last month to review a May appeals court ruling that upheld part of Lin’s injunction.The justices have not decided whether to hear the case.Claudia Polsky, director of UC Berkeley’s Environmental Law Clinic and a lawyer for the plaintiffs, welcomed the agreement.

“I’m thrilled they can now substitute res...