Trump NIH Grants: Illegal Termination – ProPublica
- A federal judge has temporarily blocked the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from terminating several research grants,finding that the agency's policy shift was likely politically motivated.
- The halted grants include studies on mental health treatment for LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Ethan Moitra, an associate professor at Brown University, said his grant studying mental health treatment for LGBTQ+ people was terminated two and a half years into its three-year...
A federal judge has intervened, halting the NIH’s termination of research grants, citing potential political motivations behind the policy shift. This decisive action impacts studies focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), particularly those related to LGBTQ+ mental health. Experts note the unprecedented nature of these grant cancellations prompted by political directives, and the administration is already exploring legal challenges. The White House defends its stance, emphasizing its focus on ”biological reality” and reframing the discussion around scientific rigor, as highlighted in today’s News Directory 3 report. Explore the legal and scientific implications further – discover what’s next in the NIH grants saga.
Judge Blocks NIH Grant Terminations Targeting DEI Research
Updated June 19,2025
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from terminating several research grants,finding that the agency’s policy shift was likely politically motivated. The decision comes after the NIH moved to end funding for studies it deemed ideologically driven, particularly those focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
The halted grants include studies on mental health treatment for LGBTQ+ individuals. Researchers argued that the abrupt cancellations would waste years of federally funded research, impede the progress of critical treatments, and possibly harm millions of patients.
Ethan Moitra, an associate professor at Brown University, said his grant studying mental health treatment for LGBTQ+ people was terminated two and a half years into its three-year term. He called the move a waste that would prevent the research from answering key questions.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai criticized the judge’s ruling, calling it an expression of “political views and preferences.” Desai defended the administration’s policies targeting DEI, describing them as based on “flawed and racist logic.” He added that the administration is committed to “restoring the Gold Standard of Science” by recognizing the “biological reality of the male and female sexes” and shifting NIH research spending to address chronic diseases rather than “validate ideological activism.”
Andrew G. Nixon, communications director for the Department of Health and Human Services, said the agency stands by its decision to end funding for research that prioritized ideological agendas over scientific rigor. He added that the department is exploring legal options, including an appeal.
“Two and a half years into a three-year grant, and to all of a sudden stop and not fully be able to answer the original questions, it’s just a waste,” said Brown University associate professor Ethan Moitra, whose grant studying mental health treatment for LGBTQ+ people was terminated.
What’s next
Experts told ProPublica that the mass cancellation of grants in response to political policy shifts has no historical precedent. The judge’s ruling is one of many legal decisions that have halted or scaled back the administration’s actions. The question remains whether the administration will comply with the ruling, as the NIH has previously terminated research grants even after a federal judge blocked such cuts.