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Three US university associations have protested at proposals to cap research expenses for universities undertaking work for the Department of Defense.

The presidents of the Association of American Universities, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the Council on Governmental Relations issued a statement to say that plans to limit overheads payments to 20 per cent of the basic grant would discourage universities from "continuing to conduct the research vital to the nation's future security".

The indirect costs of research include laboratories, utilities, research materials, and administrative and regulatory compliance costs. The plans were made in the House of Representatives' Defense Appropriations Bill.