Federal Judge Rules NIH Grant Terminations Illegal, Orders Restoration of Hundreds of Grants

A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled that the Trump administration's abrupt cancellation of several hundred NIH research grants was illegal and must be reversed145.

The grants were primarily terminated because they focused on gender identity or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) topics, raising questions about potential discrimination against racial minorities, women, and the LGBTQ+ community14.

Judge William Young described the grant termination process as 'arbitrary and capricious,' noting it failed to follow established government standards145.

Young called the discrimination in this case 'palpably clear,' stating he had not witnessed such government racial discrimination in his 40 years as a judge14.

The court's decision affects 367 grants and represents hundreds of millions of dollars in medical research funding, including significant research into LGBTQ+ health and health disparities45.

The ruling is an interim step; a written decision is expected soon, and the Trump administration is expected to appeal15.

Advocacy groups and researchers celebrated the ruling as a major victory for public health and scientific freedom5.

Sources:

1. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triad/politics/2025/06/17/judge-ruling-nih-grant-cuts-illegal

4. https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/06/16/nih-grants-ordered-restored

5. https://www.statnews.com/2025/06/16/nih-research-cuts-ruled-illegal-by-federal-judge-william-young/