Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the National Science Foundation
What happened
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is revising its regulations for programs receiving federal assistance, specifically those implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This change, signed by Donald Trump, aligns NSF's rules with Title VI's text to prohibit only intentional discrimination, effective August 4, 2026. The NSF will no longer pursue Title VI liability for conduct that has an unintentional disparate impact.
Why it matters
This rule clarifies for NSF Federal funding recipients that their Title VI regulations will only address intentional discrimination. This means NSF will not pursue claims based on unintentional disparate impacts, potentially reducing compliance costs for recipients.
Who it affects
- ›U.S. National Science Foundation
- ›Federal funding recipients of NSF programs
- ›Colleges and universities receiving NSF grants
- ›Organizations involved in STEM workforce development
- ›Recipients of research infrastructure funding
The receipts are official. The summary is ours.
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