A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration’s termination of NIH biomedical research grants was illegal and discriminatory, siding with a coalition of 16 attorneys general, including Maryland’s, and allowing the reinstatement of funding for ongoing medical research projects.
Per the news release distributed on Tuesday, June 17: “Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today issued the following statement after a federal judge set aside the Trump administration’s decision to terminate hundreds of crucial biomedical research grants, declaring the move “illegal” and “void” and specifically condemning “clear” evidence of discrimination against the LGBTQ community and racial minorities. The judge sided with a coalition of 16 attorneys general who are suing the Trump administration over its unlawful attempt to disrupt grant funding issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“This ruling restores millions in grant funding that the Trump Administration unlawfully cut from Maryland universities simply because their researchers were studying topics like diversity, equity, and inclusion or gender identity,” said Attorney General Brown. “As this case moves forward, Maryland will continue fighting to protect scientific integrity and ensure that vital medical research is not sacrificed for political agendas.”
The lawsuit, filed on April 4, alleged that NIH had terminated large swaths of already-issued grants for projects that are currently underway based on the projects’ perceived connection to “DEI,” “transgender issues,” “vaccine hesitancy,” and other topics disfavored by the current Administration. In boilerplate letters issued to the grants’ recipients, NIH claimed that each cancelled project “no longer effectuates agency priorities.”
Siding with the states, Judge William G. Young denounced these actions, stating that he had “never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable” in his 40 years on the bench, and that he would “be blind not to call it out.”
Yesterday’s court ruling halted the cancellation of millions of dollars that have already been awarded to address important public health needs and will allow funding for life-saving medical research to continue. The coalition will be filing a proposed order with the court in the coming days.”
