I've worked in higher ed for 26 years with nearly a decade each at two large research universities (1 public, 1 private). Indirects fund administrative (compliance, legal, HR, etc) overhead, facilities (bricks, mortar, plumbing, HVAC, etc.) and all the other stuff that a research lab needs to function and comply with the terms of their grant funding.
I'm sorry but there's no luxurious facilities being funded with research grant indirects. You've been misled or are mistaken.
Fair enough. So what is the optimal percentage for indirects? Did the NIH previously have it too low, too high, or exactly right? Is there some way to quantify this?
We likely aren’t going to be able to find a local or global optimum. But whatever it is one thing is for sure; a bunch of ill informed decision makers with no experience or expertise on the matter who come in and make sweeping changes are far more likely to cause great harm than good.
I'm sorry but there's no luxurious facilities being funded with research grant indirects. You've been misled or are mistaken.