Overview

• The cancelled grants totaled over $1 billion and disproportionately funded research on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, vaccine hesitancy, transgender healthcare and COVID-19.
• Plaintiffs including 16 states led by Massachusetts and the American Public Health Association argued the cuts targeted studies benefiting racial minorities and LGBTQ communities.
• Judge William G. Young described the actions as ‘void and illegal’ and said he had ‘never seen government racial discrimination like this.’
• Court filings revealed the administration could not produce a clear record of which grants were terminated, highlighting systemic accountability failures at the NIH.
• The Department of Health and Human Services plans to appeal the ruling, potentially prolonging judicial oversight of federal research funding decisions.