A federal judge has permanently barred the Trump administration from limiting funding for medical research at universities and academic medical centers, restoring billions of dollars in grant money. The decision comes as a relief to institutions that argued the policy would harm ongoing research.
The ruling by Judge Angel Kelley was issued on Friday and made an earlier temporary order permanent. The government had asked the court to enter this verdict earlier so it could move ahead with an appeal. Despite this unusual request, the decision is seen as a win for academic institutions conducting medical research.
Under the policy change, the National Institutes of Health would have capped funding for indirect costs such as maintenance and utilities at 15%. Critics argued that this would force institutions to cover these costs, potentially leading to staff layoffs and reduced research projects. The judge had previously ruled against the policy, describing it as “unnecessarily reckless” and inflicting serious harm on medical research.
The decision restores billions of dollars in grant money and sets up an almost certain appeal from the government. Another lawsuit filed by 16 states over withheld grants is ongoing. The scientific community faces additional challenges due to recent cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services, which has led to layoffs affecting National Institutes of Health divisions.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/us/politics/nih-medical-research-funding.html