Mercer Times

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and a coalition of 15 other attorneys general have filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over the termination and delay of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and challenges the disruption of hundreds of issued grants, along with delays in the review of new grant applications.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized New Jersey’s historical role in medical and scientific research, stating, "Instead of supporting this lifesaving research, the Trump Administration is undermining it at every turn, recklessly terminating and delaying research funding that can save lives and solve some of the biggest public health challenges of our time."

The complaint argues that the NIH terminated grants due to their association with topics not favored by the current administration. The NIH justified the terminations by stating the projects "no longer effectuate agency priorities." The complaint asserts that this action involves reclaiming millions of dollars meant for urgent public health needs.

Allegations in the lawsuit also include delays in issuing final decisions on grant applications. The NIH is said to have cancelled meetings of expert review bodies and withheld decisions on applications that have already been approved. Plaintiff states are awaiting decisions on funding requests amounting to billions of dollars.

Attorney General Platkin noted the impacts at Rutgers University, where grants worth more than $6 million have been terminated, affecting research in areas such as HIV prevention, mental health, and COVID-19 treatments. Annual NIH funding for Rutgers amounts to approximately $250 million, supporting about 1,200 projects.

The coalition contends that the NIH's actions violate statutory obligations and applicable regulations. They argue the Administration lacks authority to disregard congressionally appropriated funds. The coalition requests the court to prevent the termination of grants and require the review and decisions on pending applications.

This lawsuit is part of ongoing efforts by Attorney General Platkin, who previously joined lawsuits against the administration over NIH grant funding issues. On February 10, a coalition of 22 attorneys general, including Platkin, opposed the administration’s attempts to cut "indirect cost" reimbursements at research institutions. And on April 1, Platkin, along with 23 states and the District of Columbia, sued the administration over cuts in the Department of Health and Human Services grants.

The lawsuit includes the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.