California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined forces with 21 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over sudden cuts to medical research funding that could severely impact universities nationwide.
The legal action challenges the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) abrupt decision to reduce "indirect cost" reimbursements to a flat 15% rate for all research institutions, including the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems.
These reimbursements help cover essential research-related expenses like laboratory facilities, infrastructure, and utilities. The cuts took effect with virtually no advance notice, giving institutions no time to prepare for major budget shortfalls.
"The Trump Administration is violating the law and attempting to devastate funding for medical research that helps develop new cures and treatments for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's," said Attorney General Bonta.
The impact on California's research institutions could be particularly severe. The UC system received over $2 billion in NIH funding in fiscal year 2023, while CSU campuses were awarded approximately $158 million. Without immediate intervention, the funding cuts may force the suspension of clinical trials, disruption of research programs, staff reductions, and laboratory closures.
UC President Michael V. Drake warned that "cuts of this magnitude would deal a devastating blow to our country's research and innovation enterprise" and could derail progress toward treating serious diseases.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, argues that the Trump Administration's action violates the Administrative Procedure Act and contradicts Congressional directives prohibiting categorical changes to indirect cost reimbursements.
The NIH serves as the primary federal funding source for medical research in the United States. Its grants have enabled major scientific breakthroughs, including cancer treatments, DNA sequencing, and MRI development.
The coalition of attorneys general is seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the funding cuts from taking effect while the case proceeds through the courts.