Attorney General Josh Kaul, along with a coalition of 21 other attorneys general, has secured a nationwide preliminary injunction in the case Massachusetts v. NIH. This legal action prevents the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from reducing billions of dollars allocated to medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the United States.
AG Kaul stated, "For the time being, this preliminary injunction will ward off abrupt and devastating cuts to life-changing medical research." He emphasized that for long-term protection against damage to such research, "the Trump administration must change course and stop pursuing this policy of self-sabotage."
The preliminary injunction safeguards essential funds that support biomedical research, including expenses related to labs, faculty, infrastructure, and utilities. These funds are crucial for maintaining the United States' leadership in lifesaving medical research.
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 against NIH's attempts to cut critical funding. The new order replaces this temporary restraining order and maintains funding as the case continues until a final decision is reached.
The NIH serves as a major source of federal funding for medical research in America. Funding from NIH grants has led to numerous scientific advancements such as cancer treatments and DNA sequencing breakthroughs. Many scientists supported by NIH have received Nobel Prizes for their contributions.
The lawsuit is co-led by attorneys general from Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan. Attorney General Kaul is joined by his counterparts from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington.