A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration broke the law by canceling National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants tied to diversity and health equity, calling the decision discriminatory and procedurally flawed.
Lauran Neergaard reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- U.S. District Judge William Young ruled that the Trump administration illegally ended NIH research grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), describing the decision as “arbitrary and capricious.”
- Young, a Reagan appointee, said the government's actions appeared driven by racial and anti-LGBTQ bias, and noted the lack of proper definitions or justification for the term “DEI” used in terminating the grants.
- The ruling comes in response to lawsuits filed by 16 state attorneys general and advocacy groups, who argued the cuts jeopardized studies on health disparities.
Key quote:
“I’ve never seen government racial discrimination like this. Have we no shame.”
— William Young, U.S. District Judge
Why this matters:
Research funding decisions can shape which communities benefit from scientific advances. The NIH funds critical studies on how diseases affect different populations, including those historically overlooked by medicine. By cutting grants focused on racial and LGBTQ+ health disparities, the federal government risks widening already persistent gaps in health outcomes. Pulling support mid-study can derail long-term findings, disrupt clinical trials, and discourage future researchers from exploring politically sensitive but scientifically urgent issues. These moves also raise broader concerns about political interference in science and whether research is being evaluated on merit or ideology. If left unchecked, such actions could undermine the credibility of federal agencies and compromise public trust in evidence-based policy.
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