Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with a coalition of 21 other attorneys general, has secured a nationwide preliminary injunction in the case of Massachusetts v. NIH. This legal order prevents the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from cutting billions of dollars in funding for medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the United States.
"Today’s ruling is great news for the medical institutions across Minnesota engaged in lifesaving public health research, as well as for the people across America who are counting on that research to help cure diseases and develop new medical treatments," said Attorney General Ellison. "Our tax dollars help fund NIH and Congress passed legislation directing NIH to support medical research. Donald Trump has absolutely no right to cut off that essential research funding and subvert the will of Congress with the stroke of a pen. The last thing we need is to inject politics into lifesaving medical research."
The injunction ensures that critical funds supporting biomedical research continue to be available. These funds cover costs such as laboratory operations, faculty salaries, infrastructure maintenance, and utilities. Without this financial support, ongoing medical research could face significant challenges.
On February 10, shortly after the lawsuit was filed against the administration, a judge in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order preventing NIH from proceeding with funding cuts. The current order replaces that restraining order and will remain effective until a final court decision is reached.
The NIH plays a vital role as the primary source of federal funding for medical research in the country. Its grants have facilitated numerous scientific advancements including cancer treatment discoveries and DNA sequencing breakthroughs. Many scientists supported by NIH have received Nobel Prizes for their contributions.
This legal action is being co-led by attorneys general from Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan. In addition to Attorney General Ellison, participating states include Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin.