Attorney General Platkin Secures Nationwide Injunction Against NIH Research Funding Cuts

Federal Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Attempt to Defund Medical and Public Health Innovation

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with a coalition of 21 other state attorneys general, has secured a nationwide preliminary injunction preventing the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from cutting billions of dollars in federal research funding. The court order ensures that vital biomedical and public health research at universities and institutions nationwide will continue as the legal case progresses.

The preliminary injunction, issued in Massachusetts v. NIH, replaces a temporary restraining order granted on February 10, just hours after the coalition filed its lawsuit. The injunction will remain in effect until a final court ruling is made, preserving funding for medical innovation, faculty and lab support, research infrastructure, and utility costs that sustain scientific advancement.

“The Trump Administration tried to defund cancer research, cures for many life-threatening diseases, and the other critical work that our nation-leading research institutions do here in New Jersey – but we stopped them,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Our victory in court will ensure that the important research and development activities at universities across our state will continue with NIH funding, and lives here in New Jersey and across the country will be saved. We will continue this fight until these cruel and heartless cuts are permanently stopped.”

Impact of NIH Funding on Medical Research

NIH is the leading federal agency for medical research funding in the United States. Grants provided through NIH have historically facilitated major scientific discoveries, including cancer treatments and the first sequencing of DNA. NIH-supported scientists have also been recipients of multiple Nobel Prizes for their contributions to medicine and health sciences.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized that these funds are critical for sustaining research that leads to life-saving medical breakthroughs. The injunction prevents the proposed funding cuts from disrupting ongoing research efforts in areas such as cancer treatment, infectious diseases, and genetic research.

Legal Action and National Implications

The coalition of attorneys general argued that the federal government’s attempt to reduce research funding would jeopardize essential scientific work and hinder public health advancements. The injunction applies nationwide, ensuring that research institutions in all states—whether or not they joined the lawsuit—will continue receiving financial support from NIH.

The legal challenge is supported by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

With the injunction in place, the case will proceed in federal court to determine the long-term future of NIH funding. Until a final ruling is issued, medical and public health research across the country will remain protected from the proposed funding cuts.