The Democratic Attorney General and 16 states sued the National Institutes of Health on Friday, claiming that the agency intentionally delayed and confused the Medical Research Grant Award and fired the grants already issued.

in Page 82 complaints The Attorney General said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and NIH Director Jayanta Bhattacharya that since President Donald Trump took office, the NIH has postponed the process of approving grants that should be awarded.

The agency refuses to pay multi-year grants approved under previous administration, a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, citing differences in opinion on issues of race and gender.

Massachusetts, California, Maryland, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin have filed lawsuits.

nih is “at risk”

The attorney generals of these states praised the NIH as the “crown gem” of health research that has encouraged health breakthroughs and promoted economic growth across the country.

“That important work is now at risk,” they wrote. “By the law, NIH has provided much of its support for scientific research and training in the form of grants to external institutions. However, since January, the current administration has been engaged in a coordinated, multifaceted effort to disrupt NIH grants.”

Since last month, NIH has sent “hundreds of letters” to state research institutions canceling grants that had already been issued. The agency was told that the grant was “no longer effective… agency priorities.”

These cancellations stem from three executive orders signed on his first day in an office aimed at diversity, equity, comprehensive initiatives and recognition of transgender people. Agency leaders followed up with an order suspending related grants.

The letter to the research institution said, “The grant in question has ended due to relationships with “DEI,” “transgender issues,” “vaccine hesitation,” or another topic that is disadvantaged by the current administration,” the Attorney General wrote.

HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

Yet another legal battle

The same goes for the department It faces the suit From a broader democratic group over the cancellation of other grants first issued during the Covid-19 pandemic. These states say the department has overturned grant extensions and cancelled $11 billion in funding that led to layoffs and job halts.

Federal judge on Thursday order These grants will be temporarily restored once the case is deployed.

Last updated at 3:22pm, April 4, 2025