Federal Judge Rules Trump NIH Grant Cuts Illegal, Citing Racial LGBTQ Discrimination

A federal judge, William Young, appointed by Ronald Reagan, ruled that President Trump's administration illegally canceled hundreds of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), racial health disparities, and LGBTQ+ issues, identifying the cuts as racial and anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. Judge Young described the administration's actions as "arbitrary and capricious" and condemned the discrimination as unprecedented in his 40 years on the bench, calling it "palpably clear" and "appalling." The grants, amounting to over $1 billion, were abruptly terminated under an executive order from Trump’s second term that ended all DEI work in the federal government. Young emphasized his duty to call out the discrimination, highlighting that the funding cuts were designed to halt important health research impacting minority and LGBTQ communities. The ruling mandates the immediate restoration of the grants but is expected to be appealed by the administration. Trump aides have defended the cuts, labeling DEI as "illegal racial discrimination," while the judge’s decision marks a significant judicial rebuke of the administration's policies on minority and equity-focused research funding.