A coalition of medical researchers, unions, and professional associations have filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's elimination of funding for medical research projects. In January 2025, President Trump issued three executive orders that eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs throughout the federal government (EO 14151), remove legal recognition for transgender people (EO 14168), and order the removal of DEI programs in all institutions that receive federal funding (EO 14173). Consequently, funding for hundreds of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research projects related to underserved communities and transgender people have been abruptly cancelled. The plaintiffs argue that the termination of NIH funding violates the Administrative Procedure Act, federal regulations, the Public Health Service Act, the Fifth Amendment, and the separation powers. The plaintiffs request that the court order the defendants to restore NIH funding.
On May 22, 2025, the Motion for Preliminary Injunction was collapsed with trial on the merits in accordance with Rule 65(a).
