US judge rules Trump's cuts to NIH funding illegal

IANS June 17, 2025 298 views

A federal judge ruled Trump's cuts to NIH diversity funding illegal, calling them discriminatory. The decision restores over $1 billion for minority-related research. Judge Young, a Reagan appointee, condemned the administration's actions as blatantly biased. The NIH, a key biomedical research hub, had faced massive funding reductions under Trump.

"I've never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable." – Judge William Young
US judge rules Trump's cuts to NIH funding illegal
Washington, June 17: A federal judge in US city of Boston ruled that the Trump's administration's decision to terminate funding for diversity-related research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was illegal, accusing the administration of discriminating against minority groups.

Key Points

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Federal judge voids Trump's NIH diversity funding cuts

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Reagan-appointed judge calls move discriminatory

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NIH terminated $9.5B in research grants

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Ruling restores funding to minority-focused studies

The NIH canceled more than one billion US dollars in research funding because it was deemed related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. US District Judge William Young said in a non-jury trial that the move has violated federal law and is "void and illegal."

Young, a federal judge nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said he would restore funding to organizations and Democratic-led states that had filed lawsuits over the terminations, Xinhua news agency reported.

Young criticised the cancellation of funding for minority-related research, saying, "I've never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable."

"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," Young said.

The NIH is the world's largest publicly funded biomedical research organization, awarding approximately 60,000 grants to nearly 3,000 universities and hospitals each year. It has been a key target for funding cuts and federal spending reductions under the Trump administration.

Since Donald Trump took office in his second term as president in January, the NIH has terminated 2,100 research grants totaling approximately $9.5 billion and an additional $2.6 billion in contracts, according to media reports.

Reader Comments

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Priya K.
This ruling shows why independent judiciary matters globally. Cutting research funding based on political ideology is dangerous, especially when it affects minority communities. India should learn from this - our scientific institutions need protection from political interference too. 🧐
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Rahul S.
While I don't support Trump's policies, I wonder if some DEI initiatives go too far. In India, we've seen how excessive identity politics can divide society. Research funding should be merit-based, but cutting existing grants was wrong. Complex issue!
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Ananya M.
$9.5 billion cut from research?! That's more than India's entire health budget! 😱 America can afford these political games, but imagine if this happened here. Our scientists struggle for basic funding as it is. Judge Young did the right thing.
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Vikram J.
Interesting that a Reagan-appointed judge ruled against Trump. Shows principles matter more than party lines. In India, we need more judges who put constitution above politics. Health research affects humanity - shouldn't be political football.
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Sunita R.
As someone working in public health, this scares me. Medical research needs diversity to serve all populations. India has hundreds of ethnic groups - what if our govt cut studies on tribal health? Judge Young's words give me hope for global science community.
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Karan P.
Mixed feelings. While discrimination is wrong, American universities already have strong diversity programs. Maybe funds could be better used for global health issues affecting developing nations like ours? Just a thought from this side of the world.

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Trump NIH funding diversity research Judge William Young federal ruling DEI cuts