She said the researchers contacted were across a range of fields and it was “pretty indiscriminate”. Those targeted included academics from cryptography to social policy.
ANU said in a statement it received a letter from the US government indicating an intent to terminate funding related to one research project.
Some researchers who have answered the questionnaire have had their US funding reinstated. Others, who asked why they had to answer the questions, were sent a copy of a letter from the White House to the heads of US executive departments and agencies.
“The use of federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and Green New Deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve,” it said.
Group of Eight universities received about $515 million over the past three years in research funding from the US.
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Thomson said some academics at European universities had chosen not to respond to the survey. “I assume that’s because they don’t have the same challenges we have with research funding,” she said.
“The advice we got from our government is, ‘You probably should respond’.”
Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia president Professor Kate Darian-Smith said the move could have negative consequences for Australia and the US in research areas including health, economic development, education, energy and national security.
“The move to place politically and ideologically motivated limitations on international research collaboration is particularly worrying,” Darian-Smith said.
The prime minister’s office has been contacted for comment.
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