Federal Judge Rules Trump NIH Grant Cuts Illegal Citing Racial Discrimination

A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled that President Donald Trump's administration illegally canceled several hundred National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants, primarily those linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as well as gender identity studies. U.S. District Judge William Young condemned the administration's actions as arbitrary, capricious, and discriminatory against racial minorities and the LGBTQ community, describing the level of government racial discrimination as unprecedented in his 40 years on the bench. The judge ordered the reinstatement of the grants contested in lawsuits filed by attorneys general, public health groups, and affected researchers, while noting that a formal ruling could be appealed. The Trump administration defended the cuts as prioritizing scientific merit over ideological concerns but is now exploring legal options to challenge the ruling. This legal conflict highlights the administration's broader agenda to reduce federal support for DEI programs, which has drawn significant backlash from the academic and public health communities. The judge's ruling underscores the tension between the administration's policies and legal standards governing government funding for research focused on marginalized populations.