New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with 15 other attorneys general, is challenging the Trump administration's proposed cuts to medical research funding. In the court case Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. National Institutes of Health, these officials are seeking to extend a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that blocks cuts to funding for universities and research institutions, including those in the CUNY and SUNY systems.
According to the Office of the New York State Attorney General website, the coalition stated, "The Trump administration’s attempt to cut research funding at thousands of research institutions across the country is not only unlawful; it undermines public health, our economy, and our competitiveness." They emphasize that the cuts could reduce research on diseases like cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, and PTSD.
This legal action follows a lawsuit filed by the coalition on Monday last week, with attorneys general from several states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, and others. The court issued a TRO quickly, preventing the NIH from cutting billions in biomedical and public health research funding.
The attorneys general argue that the court’s decision is vital for both the rule of law and public health.
