A public health association and one of the nation’s largest worker unions are suing the Trump administration over the cancellation of hundreds of research grants, arguing that the move was arbitrary and capricious.
The American Public Health Association, the United Auto Workers, and several scholars filed a complaint in a Massachusetts court against the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH canceled hundreds of grants, many of which have been underway for years, citing “radical transparency about wasteful spending.”
The move has been met with criticism from researchers and scientists, who argue that the grant cancellations were done to appease a particular political interest. Many of the projects focus on topics such as racial disparities in health, HIV research, and mental health.
“This is not just a matter of politics; it’s about the fundamental principles of science,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, president and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “The NIH process is supposed to be insulated from political interference.”
The complaint argues that the grant cancellations were an arbitrary act, exceeding statutory authority, and are void because they are vague. It also claims that Congress has exclusive power over spending and lawmaking, and that the executive branch’s decision to pull funding directly contradicts a directive of Congress.
The lawsuit is part of a wave of litigation against the Trump administration, with more than 100 lawsuits filed in the first months of its second presidency.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/02/health/nih-grants-funding-lawsuit/index.html