A federal judge in Boston ruled Monday that the Trump administration’s decision to terminate billions of dollars in research grants related to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) was unlawful and discriminatory. U.S. District Judge William Young, presiding over a nonjury trial, declared the National Institutes of Health (NIH) cuts “void and illegal,” citing violations of federal law and constitutional protections.
The ruling stems from lawsuits filed by multiple Democratic-led states and research organizations, including the American Public Health Association, after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) abruptly canceled over 2,100 NIH grants, totaling approximately $9.5 billion, along with $2.6 billion in contracts. Judge Young, a Reagan appointee, reinstated grants awarded to the plaintiffs and indicated he may expand his decision in subsequent proceedings.
“This represents racial discrimination and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community,” Young stated in court. “Any discrimination by our government is so wrong that it requires the court to enjoin it and at an appropriate time, I’m going to do it.” He added, “You are bearing down on people of color because of their color. The Constitution will not permit that.”
The NIH grant cancellations have significantly impacted higher education institutions across the country. Major research universities, including the University of Washington, report that NIH grants constitute a substantial portion of their research funding. The university noted it received $648 million from NIH last fiscal year alone. The disruption has led to hiring freezes, class reductions, and even halted long-term projects such as Alzheimer’s research.
Rachel Meeropol of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the plaintiffs, said the decision affects hundreds of grants. The NIH has also been accused of targeting funding for research on transgender health, Covid-19, vaccine hesitancy, and collaborations with Chinese universities—moves aligned with broader efforts by the Trump administration to roll back support for DEI- and gender-related programs.
In response to the ruling, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon defended the cuts. “HHS stands by its decision to end funding for research that prioritized ideological agendas over scientific rigor,” he said. The agency is weighing an appeal and other legal options.
Judge Young will continue to hear remaining claims in the case, which could result in the reinstatement of even more terminated grants.
