Judge Reinstates Arbitrarily Cut NIH Research Grants

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Federal District Court Judge William Young declared “void and illegal” the termination of over $1 billion in National Institutes of Health research grants due to perceived linkage with diversity, equity and inclusion.

Young reinstated grants to organizations and Democratic-led states had filed suit over the cut-offs.

About research grants involving racial minorities, Young said he had “never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable.” He has been on the bench about 40 years. “You [Donald Trump’s government] are bearing down on people of color because of their color. The Constitution will not permit that.”

Young’s ruling affects hundreds of the 2100 NIH grants cancelled since Trump took office. The terminated grants are worth $9.5 billion and terminated contracts are worth another $2.6 billion.

This ruling only addresses some of the issues in front of Young in his court. He signalled that as the case proceeds, he is likely to issue even larger rulings. “This represents racial discrimination and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community. Any discrimination by our government is so wrong that it requires the court to enjoin it and at an appropriate time, I’m going to do it.”

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