Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced that a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This order prevents the NIH from proceeding with its plan to reduce funding for biomedical and public health research.
"The Court's swift action provides immediate relief to research and public health institutions throughout the Commonwealth," stated AG Campbell. She emphasized that this is "an initial victory for every person and family counting on the life saving science funded by federal grants." Campbell affirmed her commitment to advocating for the people of Massachusetts, their healthcare, and adherence to legal principles.
The TRO was granted shortly after AG Campbell, along with 21 other attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration. The suit argues that the administration's attempt to cut NIH grants violates laws designed to protect medical research funding from arbitrary reductions. The restraining order temporarily halts any NIH actions aimed at implementing these cuts within the plaintiff states until further court orders are issued.
A hearing is scheduled in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts on Friday, February 21 at 10 a.m., where more details about AG Campbell’s lawsuit will be discussed.