Federal Court Challenges Trump Administration’s NIH Funding Freeze

The Trump administration is utilizing a procedural gap to maintain a freeze on national research funding, despite a federal court ruling that temporarily halted the action. Shortly after taking office in January, President Donald Trump’s administration introduced a measure aimed at significantly reducing National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants allocated for “indirect costs.” 

These expenses cover essentials such as infrastructure, equipment, and administrative support. Although a federal judge imposed a temporary nationwide halt on the policy, both Nature and The Chronicle indicate that the funding remains on hold, creating uncertainty for researchers.

The delay stems from the suspension of grant proposal evaluations, which play a crucial role in determining NIH funding allocations. Internal communications referenced by the two publications reveal that these review sessions cannot be scheduled at present. Under the current administration, all NIH meetings have been put on hold.

Preventing the NIH from completing this essential administrative process has resulted in continued delays in disbursing funds to scientists. The NIH, with an annual budget close to $48 billion, stands as the most significant public supporter of biomedical research globally.

Aaron Hoskins, Ph.D., an RNA biochemist and assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, described the situation as particularly troubling. Speaking with Nature, he explained that the stalled grant process has forced him to reconsider hiring graduate students.

The legitimacy of the administration’s actions is under legal examination, as the U.S. Constitution grants Congress—not the president—the authority to allocate funding. David Super, an administrative law expert at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., highlighted this concern in an interview with Nature.

At the time of publication, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had not provided a response to an inquiry from Fierce Biotech. Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court in Boston initially placed a temporary hold on the federal policy on February 10, following lawsuits from several universities and research institutions. This broad order extended a prior restraining measure that applied to 22 states that had also taken legal action.

During a hearing on February 21, Judge Kelley extended the nationwide temporary restriction, which had been set to lapse on February 24, according to STAT. The suspension will remain in effect until a final ruling is issued on the proposed funding modification.