California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of 22 attorneys general, has initiated legal action against the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The lawsuit challenges recent funding cuts that affect medical and public health research across U.S. universities and research institutions. Filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, the lawsuit opposes the administration's decision to reduce "indirect cost" reimbursements, impacting institutions such as the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU).
Attorney General Bonta stated, "We are suing President Trump and his administration because they are once again violating the law. Let’s be clear about what they are seeking to do now: they want to eviscerate funding for medical research that helps develop new cures and treatments for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s."
The UC system relies heavily on NIH grants for its research endeavors. UC President Michael V. Drake emphasized the potential negative consequences: "Cuts of this magnitude would deal a devastating blow to our country’s research and innovation enterprise." He also noted that such reductions could delay or derail advancements in treating serious diseases.
Jason Maymon from CSU expressed concerns over the impact on their 23 universities, saying that these cuts would jeopardize critical research efforts in fields like healthcare and cybersecurity. He added that it threatens both current research projects and future scientific progress.
Rafael Jaime from UAW 4811 supported the lawsuit due to its significance on members engaged in vital research projects.
The NIH's abrupt decision was announced on February 7, reducing indirect cost rates to a uniform 15% effective by February 10. This change left institutions with little time to adjust budgets, potentially leading to disruptions in ongoing clinical trials and other research activities.
The lawsuit argues that these actions breach multiple aspects of the Administrative Procedure Act by being arbitrary and capricious while violating previous congressional directives aimed at preventing such funding cuts.
Attorney General Bonta is joined by attorneys general from states including Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin