GRAND FORKS (AP) - Amid talk of a congressional crackdown on earmarked projects, some in North Dakota worry the housecleaning might hit too close to home.

The University of North Dakota and its related agencies were slated to receive more than $7 million this year in earmarked funds from appropriations bills that did not pass the 109th Congress. Officials worry the new Congress may take a more critical look at earmarked money, a term that refers to money for specific projects, sometimes considered "pet" projects of lawmakers.

UND's earmarks include money for the school's Indians into Medicine program, the Center for Rural Health and for the Energy and Environmental Research Center.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said a moratorium on earmarks may apply only to projects that were not funded in other years, meaning funding could still come through for EERC projects and about three-quarters of the Indians Into Medicine program funding.

Earmarks that support research into unmanned aerial vehicle technology and an ROTC helicopter flight training program at UND were included in a defense appropriations bill that passed before Christmas.

"I remain hopeful we can continue to make these investments at UND," Dorgan said. "These are investments for the country, such as research in alternative energy and research in UAVs that will strengthen and benefit the entire country."

Indians Into Medicine Director Eugene DeLorme said he faces a reduction of about 50 percent in his annual budget. Unless funding comes through, he will have to eliminate summer programs for young students, drastically reduce other services and cut staff, he said.