Judge Temporarily Blocks Cuts To Federal Grant Funding For Research Institutions

Reuters (2/10, Raymond, Cohen) reports, “A U.S. judge on Monday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration’s sharp cuts to federal grant funding for universities, medical centers and other research institutions.” According to Reuters, “U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley’s decision was a win for Democratic attorneys general from 22 U.S. states who sued on Monday in federal court in Boston to challenge cuts adopted by the National Institutes of Health to the reimbursement rate for some costs of the research institutions.” The cuts were expected “to take effect on Monday.” Kelley “scheduled a hearing for Feb. 21 for further arguments.” NBC News (2/10, Bush) reports the lawsuit filed by 22 state attorneys general “claims that NIH violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs the process of how federal agencies develop and issue new regulations.” The complaint “also claims that the administration ignored the will of Congress, which has included a provision designed to prevent changes to indirect cost rates since 2018 and after President Donald Trump’s first administration tried to alter the process.” Kelley “granted the attorneys generals’ request for a temporary restraining order, ordering the agencies not to take any steps to implement, apply, or enforce the new policy.” The AP (2/10, Casey, Neergaard) reports, “Scientists warn the Trump administration’s drastic cuts for medical research endanger patients, will cost thousands of jobs – and threaten America’s standing as a world leader in science and innovation.” While the cuts “are tackled in court, universities, hospitals and other research groups are reeling as they try to figure out how to handle the sudden loss of funding.”