Overview

• The Supreme Court ruled 5–4 that challenges to NIH grant terminations must be heard in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, overturning lower-court orders that had blocked more than $780 million in cancellations.
• The administration has asked to transfer Harvard’s lawsuit out of Massachusetts federal court, while Harvard argues its First Amendment and Title VI claims target broader policies suitable for district-court review.
• Legal experts warn reinstated NIH awards could be re-terminated because the claims court generally lacks injunctive power to keep money flowing during protracted cases.
• Harvard’s affected awards total roughly $2.4 billion with about $1.3 billion in unpaid funds, and talks continue over a possible settlement reported near $500 million.
• The Court issued fractured opinions that also signaled the termination policy is likely unlawful, intensifying uncertainty as a Sept. 3 district-court decision deadline looms.