Attorney General Kris Mayes has issued a statement following a federal judge's decision in the District of Massachusetts to grant a temporary restraining order (TRO). This ruling came shortly after Mayes and other attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The suit challenges the administration's decision to cut funding for medical and public health research at universities and research institutions nationwide.
Mayes stated, "In every case we have brought against the Trump administration so far, from birthright citizenship to this attempt to defund critical medical and public health research, we have blocked the President’s lawless actions. I am heartened by our successes in court as we continue to fight back against this attempted coup. Rest assured that if there is any evidence of the Trump administration undermining court orders or pursuing additional unconstitutional actions, we will continue to fight to protect Arizonans."
The University of Arizona was allocated over $170 million in NIH funding for fiscal year 2024. Arizona State University's Tempe Campus received more than $65 million, while Northern Arizona University obtained nearly $14 million during the same period. Private hospitals also faced potential cuts: Banner received $26 million, Mayo Clinic was awarded $17 million, and St. Joseph’s obtained $10 million. The total projected impact on Arizona's medical institutions exceeds $20 million.
Last week, students at ASU protested against these funding freezes due to their severe implications.
A copy of the court's decision is available for public viewing.