Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is leading the charge against the Trump Administration in a lawsuit involving 16 states. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, alleges that the administration is illegally disrupting grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Specifically, it accuses the administration of purposely delaying the review process for NIH grant applications and terminating already-issued grants, according to Mass.gov.
The lawsuit claims that these delays have significant consequences for research institutions and public health advancements in Massachusetts. "Massachusetts is the medical research capital of the country. Not only do our public research institutions rely on NIH funding for their groundbreaking research, job creation and academic competitiveness, but our residents depend on these studies to propel lifesaving medical advancements," AG Campbell stated in a release obtained by Mass.gov. The plaintiff states are currently waiting for decisions on billions of dollars in research funding.
UMass President Marty Meehan emphasized the vital role research universities play in the state's economy. "UMass received $285 million from the National Institutes of Health last year to lead life-saving medical research, conduct clinical trials, and ultimately to support our state’s position as a global life sciences leader," Meehan told Mass.gov. The potential loss of federal funds could significantly harm the university and stall progress in medical treatments and cures.
The complaint also sheds light on alleged politically motivated funding cuts, with grants for studies related to "DEI," "transgender issues," and "vaccine hesitancy" being terminated due to being deemed out of line with current Administration priorities. NIH's cancellation of grants with claims that the projects "no longer effectuates agency priorities" has invited strong criticism and claims of unlawful actions by the administration, according to Mass.gov.
One of the affected projects at UMass, which aimed to investigate a gene that could advance treatments for Alzheimer's Disease, has been put on hold because of the advisory council review meetings delay. This situation has forced UMass Amherst to scale back its Fall 2025 doctoral program admissions, rescinding offers to many admitted students. The plaintiff states argue that NIH is not fulfilling its statutory obligations and is violating regulations by postponing meetings and failing to proceed with funding decisions. The coalition is seeking a court order to compel the Trump Administration to promptly review and make decisions on the delayed grant applications and to prohibit them from canceling already-awarded grants, as detailed in the suit.
Previously, on February 10, AG Campbell led a similar coalition in a suit against the Administration for trying to cut "indirect cost" reimbursements for NIH grants. A preliminary injunction was issued on March 5, which stops the Administration from making those cuts while the case is ongoing. Attorneys general from a total of 22 states have joined AG Campbell in this legal action, which she co-led with California AG Rob Bonta, Maryland AG Anthony Brown, and Washington AG Nick Brown, representing a solid front against the funding cuts.
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