Federal Judge Rules NIH Grant Terminations Under Trump Were Illegal and Discriminatory

A federal judge in Boston ruled Monday that the Trump administration’s decision to terminate National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) research was "void and illegal." U.S. District Judge William Young stated the cancellation of over $1 billion in grants violated federal law and constituted discrimination against racial minorities and LGBTQ communities.

Judge Young, appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, condemned the NIH’s move, saying he had never seen such “palpable” racial discrimination in his 40 years on the bench. He reinstated funding to several organizations and Democratic-led states that filed suit, and indicated broader action could follow as the case continues.

The terminated grants, targeting research on DEI, transgender issues, COVID-19, and vaccine hesitancy, were part of the Trump administration’s broader agenda to cut government support for what it labeled "ideological" programs. Since Trump took office, NIH has canceled 2,100 grants totaling $9.5 billion and paused $2.6 billion in contracts, according to internal protests from NIH employees.

Rachel Meeropol of the ACLU, representing the plaintiffs, confirmed the ruling affects hundreds of grants. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey welcomed the decision, criticizing the damage already done—delayed research, staff layoffs, and rescinded PhD offers, which she warned gave foreign countries like China an edge in recruiting top researchers.

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon defended the funding cuts, claiming they prioritized “evidence-based science” over divisive agendas, and hinted at a possible appeal. The NIH cuts are currently under multiple legal challenges, with another federal judge blocking planned layoffs of 10,000 health agency workers.

The final ruling could impact thousands more grants and reshape federal science funding priorities.