New York Attorney General Letitia James vows to defend public health and medical progress as coalition lawsuit seeks to restore critical NIH research funding

New York – In a decisive move to protect the integrity of medical research, New York Attorney General Letitia James, joined by a coalition of 15 other states, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The legal action, initiated in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, targets the administration’s controversial decision to terminate funding for critical health and scientific research projects previously approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The controversy began in March when the NIH abruptly started rescinding millions of dollars in grants. These grants were earmarked for diverse research initiatives, including those focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), LGBTQ+ health, and vaccine hesitancy. The administration justified these cuts by claiming that the projects no longer reflected the priorities of NIH, sparking widespread criticism and concern among the scientific community.

“Once again, the Trump administration is putting politics before public health and risking lives and livelihoods in the process,” said Attorney General James. “Millions of Americans depend on our nation’s research institutions for treatments and cures to the diseases that devastate families every day. The decision to cut these funds is an attack on science, public health, and medical innovation – and I won’t stand for it. We are suing to restore these critical funds because the people of New York, and the entire nation, deserve better.”

The lawsuit underscores the significant repercussions of the funding cuts. Notably, it points out the disruption caused to ongoing research projects at major institutions. In New York alone, projects addressing Alzheimer’s disease in minority populations, risks of substance abuse in LGBTQ+ youth, and cardiovascular health in the LGBTQ+ community, among others, have seen more than $4.5 million in funding revoked. These cuts have also stalled the establishment of a pioneering health equity research training center in Buffalo, which was poised to address significant health disparities.

The legal challenge asserts that the NIH’s actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide adequate reasoning or adhere to established agency policies. Furthermore, the attorneys general argue that the cuts contravene directives from Congress, which mandate the NIH to enhance research on LGBTQ+ health, women’s and reproductive health, and to diversify the biomedical research workforce.

The lawsuit is part of Attorney General James’ broader efforts to counter what she perceives as unlawful overreaches by the Trump administration. This includes multiple lawsuits filed against the administration, aiming to protect essential services and uphold the rule of law across a variety of sectors.

This coalition lawsuit, with broad support from states across the country including California, Massachusetts, and Colorado, seeks not only to reverse the NIH grant terminations but also to ensure that future federal funding decisions adhere to lawful and transparent procedures. As the legal battle unfolds, it emphasizes the ongoing tension between state governments and the federal administration over control and direction of national health and scientific research priorities.