Attorney General Dan Rayfield has taken a stand against the Trump Administration's recent moves to disrupt vital funding for medical and public health research. Rayfield, representing Oregon, has joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit, challenging the Administration's decision to delay reviews and ultimately terminate numerous grants previously issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to the Oregon Department of Justice media, these actions put the future of scientific advancement and public health in jeopardy.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, takes issue with the Administration's cancellation of upcoming meetings for NIH review bodies and its failure to finalize decisions on already-approved applications. This struggle for funding has direct ramifications for ongoing research in various states, potentially affecting billions of dollars in research investments. "Oregon’s researchers deserve the resources they need to make breakthroughs, not to be held hostage by political games," Rayfield argued, as the coalition awaits decisions on substantial funding requests.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs allege that the NIH has terminated a number of grants for reasons tied to the projects' association with topics like "DEI," "transgender issues," and "vaccine hesitancy"—areas seemingly out of favor with the current Administration. NIH's justification for these cancellations, as stated in letters to the recipients, is that the projects "no longer effectuates agency priorities," a reason the coalition deems insufficiently grounded.
The attorneys general argue that the Administration's postponement of reviews, delay in grant decisions, and unilateral termination of grants are not only failing statutory obligations but are also in violation of established regulations. They contend that the Trump Administration lacks the authority to decline spending funds appropriated by Congress. A recent development saw AG Rayfield joining a larger group of 22 attorneys general to file a lawsuit against cuts to "indirect cost" reimbursements for NIH grants. A preliminary injunction has been obtained, preventing further budget reductions as proceedings continue.
Other states standing with AG Rayfield in this legal challenge include Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. The coalition is pursuing a prompt review and decision-making process for the delayed grant applications, aiming to prevent further terminations of the already-awarded grants.
