A US judge halted the Trump administration’s policy to reduce NIH research overhead payments after lawsuits from 22 state attorneys general, highlighting potential interruptions in medical advancement.
Unprecedented Legal Challenge
In a significant development on February 9, 2025, federal judge Angel Kelley issued a temporary restraining order blocking the National Institutes of Health’s controversial funding policy [1][7]. The policy, announced on February 6, 2025, would have implemented a drastic reduction in research overhead payments, capping them at 15% compared to the historical average of around 40% [7]. This dramatic cut threatened to slash approximately $4 billion annually from vital medical research programs [7][8].
Immediate Impact on Research Infrastructure
The stakes are particularly high for major research institutions. The University of California system, which received $2.6 billion in NIH funding last year, faces potential losses of hundreds of millions of dollars annually [3]. Dr. David J. Skorton, President of the Association of American Medical Colleges, warned that these cuts would literally result in ‘lights in labs nationwide going out’ and researchers losing their jobs [2]. The State University of New York (SUNY) system projects losses of $79 million for current grants, with $21 million in cuts expected over just the next five months [9].
Broad Coalition of Opposition
The legal challenge has united an unprecedented coalition of states and institutions. Twenty-two state attorneys general, including those from Arizona, California, Colorado, and Massachusetts, argue that the policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act by retroactively modifying existing contracts without congressional authority [1]. The University of California supported this legal action with a formal declaration, with UC President Michael V. Drake characterizing the cuts as ‘nothing short of catastrophic’ for countless Americans who depend on scientific advances [3].
Looking Ahead
A crucial hearing is scheduled for February 21, 2025, which will determine the longer-term status of these funding cuts [1][7]. Research institutions are particularly concerned about the policy’s impact on patient care and America’s global research leadership. Charles Roberts, director of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, warned that these cuts would mean ‘fewer experimental treatments will get to children’ [7]. The scientific community awaits the hearing’s outcome, as it could determine the future of biomedical research funding in the United States [1][2].