Unlawful Termination of NIH Grants by Trump Administration Overturned by Federal Judge

In a significant turn of events, a federal judge has ruled that the termination of hundreds of grants by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the Trump administration was "void and illegal." This ruling comes after more than 150 researchers, scientists, and investigators reached out to ProPublica, revealing how these terminations are dramatically reshaping the biomedical and scientific enterprise of the nation.

The judge's decision, made in two lawsuits - one led by more than a dozen states' attorneys general and the other by the American Public Health Association - determined that the directives leading to the grant terminations were "arbitrary and capricious." The ruling ordered some of the terminated grants to be reinstated, including those profiled by ProPublica in recent months.

The NIH, however, is planning to explore legal options, including filing an appeal and moving to stay the order. The administration, in response, has stated its commitment to "restoring the Gold Standard of Science," which involves a recognition of the "biological reality of the male and female sexes."

The controversy began when the Trump administration banned the NIH from funding grants that had a connection to "diversity, equity and inclusion." This decision led to the termination of a grant studying mental health treatment for LGBTQ+ people, with Ethan Moitra, a Brown University associate professor, expressing his disappointment that the research was halted midway, calling it a waste.

The mass cancellation of grants in response to political policy shifts has no historical precedent and marks an extraordinary departure from the agency's established practices. ProPublica previously found that research focused on why some populations, including women and sexual, racial or ethnic minorities, may be more at risk of certain disorders or diseases was caught up in the terminations.

Universities, scientific organizations, and individual researchers have challenged the Trump administration's directives and funding cuts through lawsuits and public advocacy. As of Monday, there have been over 180 rulings that have temporarily paused the administration's practices, according to The New York Times.

ProPublica is inviting individuals who have been affected by the grant terminations to share their experiences at [email protected]. The department has also faced criticism for giving the agency direction on what to cut and why, raising questions about the provenance of the terminations.

The administration has defended its policies targeting "diversity, equity and inclusion," with White House spokesperson Kush Desai calling it a "flawed and racist logic." However, the judge's ruling has been widely hailed as a victory for scientific research and the protection of the rights of researchers to pursue their work without political interference.

Unlawful Termination of NIH Grants by Trump Administration Overturned by Federal Judge