Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, along with a coalition of 21 other attorneys general, has achieved a nationwide preliminary injunction in the case of Massachusetts v. NIH. This order prevents the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from cutting billions in funds for medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the United States.
“Today’s preliminary injunction is a critical win for the health of Americans everywhere,” stated Attorney General Neronha. He emphasized the importance of groundbreaking medical research conducted at institutions like URI and Brown University, which contributes to public health advancements.
The injunction safeguards essential funds that support biomedical research infrastructure, including lab costs, faculty expenses, and utilities. The loss of these funds could jeopardize the United States' leadership in lifesaving medical research.
On February 10, shortly after the lawsuit was filed against the Administration, a U.S. District Court judge in Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order against NIH to halt its funding cuts. The current order replaces this restraining order and will remain effective until a final ruling is made.
The NIH is a major federal source for medical research funding in the U.S., contributing to numerous scientific breakthroughs such as cancer treatments and DNA sequencing. Many NIH-supported scientists have received Nobel Prizes for their work.
This legal action is co-led by attorneys general from Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan. The coalition includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.