A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration's plan to slash $4 billion in federal funding that supports critical medical research across U.S. universities, cancer centers, and hospitals.
Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court in Boston issued a restraining order late Monday, responding to legal challenges from university associations, research centers, and attorneys general from 22 states who opposed the cuts.
The blocked funding reduction would have impacted administrative and overhead costs for biomedical research distributed through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This research encompasses studies on major health conditions including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes.
The sudden announcement of the funding cuts on Friday sent shockwaves through the academic medical community. Research institutions argued in their lawsuit that the "flagrantly unlawful action" by U.S. health officials would severely damage America's medical research capabilities.
University officials and researchers warned that implementing these cuts would lead to:
- Closure of valuable ongoing studies
- Loss of thousands of research-related jobs
- Reduced competitiveness in global medical breakthroughs
- Disruption of established research programs
The judge's decision builds upon an earlier order granted Monday in response to a separate lawsuit filed by state attorneys general seeking to protect research funding in their jurisdictions.
The restraining order prevents the Trump administration from moving forward with their plan to cap previously agreed-upon payments that support research infrastructure at universities and health systems across the country.