Trump officials cutting $1bn in NIH grants is ‘void and illegal’, judge rules

A federal judge ruled on Monday that the Trump administration’s termination of more than $1bn in research grants at the National Institutes of Health was “void and illegal”.

US district judge William Young added that the cuts, which targeted research with a perceived connection to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), represented unlawful “racial discrimination and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community”, Reuters reported. Young, who was appointed to the bench by former president Ronald Reagan, added that he had “never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable”.

Young ordered that grants previously awarded to the organizations and 16 Democratic-led states that filed the lawsuit against the Trump administration be reinstated.

In February, the Trump administration slashed billions of dollars in NIH funding, in an attempt to shrink the federal government and national debt led by then presidential adviser Elon Musk and his so-called “department of government efficiency”. The move came amid efforts to cut 10,000 jobs from federal health agencies.

In April, the American Public Health Association; the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW); and other health experts filed suit, saying the cuts had targeted research with any connection to race, gender identity, vaccines or equity. The legal complaint claimed that the NIH broke from its science-based review process in preference of “vague” new priorities.

According to a letter signed by dozens of NIH employees, the NIH has cut 2,100 research grants valued at more than $12bn since Donald Trump took office.

During a Senate committee hearing last week, NIH director, Jay Bhattacharya, said he “didn’t take this job to terminate grants”, and was evaluating ways to restore some funding.

Young’s ruling on Monday only applies to some of the grants mentioned in the lawsuit. The federal judge will rule on further claims after both sides present additional evidence.