Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Cuts To Health Research Grants

A federal district court judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from reducing health research grants.

Judge Angel Kelley issued a temporary restraining order barring the administration from imposing the cuts in 22 states that earlier in the day sued to block the reductions. The cuts, which the administration imposed today, are still in effect in other states.

The Trump administration cuts put cancer, Alzheimer’s and infectious disease research in New York state universities at risk, New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote on X following the restraining order.

"We just won a court order ensuring this research can continue," James added.

The Trump administration on Friday said that it would limit to 15 percent funding added to health research grants to help universities and other grantees cover their overhead costs. These fees add an average of 27 percent to the cost of a grant, but vary considerably. The administration said some large research institutions, such as Harvard, Yale and Johns Hopkins, receive an indirect cost add-on equivalent to more than 60 percent of the grant.

Universities said the cuts would be devastating and force them to lay off staff and cut back on research programs.

Kelley scheduled arguments in the case for later this month.