Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown, along with attorneys general from 21 other states, has secured a nationwide preliminary injunction in the case of Massachusetts v. NIH. This order blocks the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from cutting billions in funding for medical and public health research at universities and institutions across the United States.
Brown emphasized the significance of this decision, stating, “This is a major win for research institutions across Washington state and the country.” He added that NIH funding supports vital research necessary for advancements in medicine and public health. The injunction protects funds essential for biomedical research infrastructure, faculty, labs, and utilities.
The NIH-funded research spans various areas including life-saving medicines such as cancer cures and treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes, pediatric cancer, and kidney cancer. It also includes facilities crucial for monitoring emerging health threats like avian influenza.
A temporary restraining order was initially issued by a judge in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts on February 10, shortly after the coalition filed their lawsuit against these funding cuts. The new preliminary injunction replaces this order while litigation continues.
The lawsuit is co-led by attorneys general from Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan. Other states involved include Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York North Carolina Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin.