A Massachusetts federal judge, William Young, has declared that the termination of over $1 billion in NIH grants by the Trump administration was illegal and discriminatory. In his ruling, Young stated that the NIH's actions likely represent racial and LGBTQ discrimination, as the cuts were influenced by connections to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The judge has reinstated the terminated grants and suggested more comprehensive rulings could follow, criticizing the government's lack of accountability and arguing that the reasons for these cuts were vague and irresponsible.
In a ruling issued on Monday, Judge William Young vacated the terminations that began in late February and said the NIH violated federal law by arbitrarily cancelling more than $1bn in research grants.
Judge Young told the court there could be little doubt the cuts represent racial discrimination and discrimination against America's LGBTQ community, underscoring the pervasive impact of the NIH's actions.
The plaintiffs argued that the reasons given for the terminations—connections with diversity, equity, and inclusion—were vague and lacking in concrete explanation, hindering essential research.
Young, who was appointed by US President Ronald Reagan, offered a harsh rebuke to the government, stating that in his 40 years on the bench, he had never seen evidence of racial discrimination like this.
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