New York AG Letitia James and 21 States Stave Off Trump's Funding Cuts to Medical Research

In a significant legal showdown, New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside a coalition of attorneys general from 21 other states, has successfully secured a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's attempt to drastically cut funding for medical and scientific research. This collective action aims to safeguard billions of dollars designated for vital research across the nation.

The injunction arrives on the heels of a contentious move by the National Institutes of Health to uniformly slash indirect cost rates for research grants to 15 percent—substantially below what is needed to carry out advanced research. The abrupt policy shift, announced on February 7 with plans to take effect nearly immediately on February 10, was met with swift legal opposition. On the same day, Attorney General James and the coalition of attorneys general filed a lawsuit to challenge these cuts. According to a statement obtained by the New York Attorney General's office, less than six hours post-filing, the court ruled to enact a temporary restraining order (TRO), thereby stalling the federal funding cuts.

The latest court order notably extends the protections of the initial TRO. It effectively prevents the Trump administration from implementing the proposed funding reductions that jeopardize essential biomedical and public health research undertakings. The National Institutes of Health, as the predominant source of federal medical research funding in the U.S., has historically been instrumental in facilitating major scientific achievements and supporting Nobel Prize-winning scientists.

In New York alone, the potential damage could have been severe, with approximately $5 billion in active NIH grants at risk and 250 institutions, including major universities and medical schools, standing to lose about $850 million. Institutions like the State University of New York system were facing major losses—an estimated $78 million—that could have compelled them to entirely abandon critical research projects on diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. “Without this lawsuit, New York could have lost $850 million in funding and researchers would have been forced to abandon vital research projects on cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. We will always fight back against these harmful, illegal cuts that slow down life-saving medical research, hurt our economy, and take away jobs,” Attorney General James told the New York Attorney General's office. 

Further legal action is anticipated as the coalition continues to defend research institutions nationwide. Joining New York in this legal challenge are attorneys general from states spanning the continental U.S., including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington, among others.