A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from implementing sudden cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding in 22 states, as universities launched a separate lawsuit seeking a nationwide halt.
Susan Svrluga reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- The Trump administration announced a policy reducing NIH reimbursements for indirect research costs, aiming to cut $4 billion annually.
- Twenty-two Democratic attorneys general sued, arguing the cuts violate federal law and would disrupt research, force layoffs and close labs.
- Universities, including the University of California system and major research institutions, filed their own lawsuit, calling the move “flagrantly unlawful.”
Key quote:
“Besides harming the ability of research universities to continue doing critical NIH research that seeks out new and more effective approaches to treating cancer, heart disease and dementia, among others, and translating basic science into cures, this cut would also undermine universities’ essential training of the next generation of biomedical and health science researchers.”
— Association of American Universities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and American Council on Education
Why this matters:
Cuts to NIH funding would have far-reaching consequences, not only disrupting ongoing studies but also threatening jobs for thousands of researchers, technicians and support staff. With fewer resources, promising projects could stall, delaying potential breakthroughs in disease prevention and treatment. The impact would extend beyond individual labs, weakening the United States’ position as a global leader in health science innovation.
Read more: New leadership signals dramatic changes for NIH priorities
