A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled on Monday that the directives of the Trump administration that led to the cancellations of several investigation grants from the National Health Institutes (NIH) were “null” and “illegal”.
The US district judge William Young said that the cancellation of subsidies, related to studies that involve LGBTQ+problems, gender identity and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), violated federal law, saying that it was a case of racial discrimination and discrimination against the LGBTQ+community, According to the plaintiffs in the case.
Two demands against the Administration were filed: One led by the American Public Health Association and the other Filed by a group of 16 states. Some estimates They have suggested that they had reduced up to $ 1.8 billion in research funds.
Young, appointed by President Ronald Reagan, said he was ordering NIH to restore the subsidies that were completed.
In a statement, Andrew Nixon, Communications Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, said the agency defends its decision to end the funds for research “that prioritized ideological agendas on scientific rigor and significant results for US programs. Under the leadership of evidence of the administration of the evidence, the secretary of the Trump administration, do not compromise the programs of the United States programs. Divisive Dei mandates or gender ideology. “
Nixon said the HHS is “exploring all legal options, including the presentation of an appeal and moving to maintain the order.”
Among the plaintiffs is Dr. Brittany Charlton, an associated professor at the Harvard Thard School of Public Health, who had all her subsidies finished by the NIH.
The patient’s entrance to the National Health Institutes is shown in Bethesda, Maryland, on October 16, 2014.
Gary Cameron/Reuters, file
One of the finished subsidies focused on documenting the obstetric results for lesbian, homosexual and bisexual women and another focused on how discriminatory laws affect mental health among adolescents LGBTQ+.
“As a plaintiff, I felt really seen: it was a rare moment when the deep damage caused to the researchers and the communities we served was recognized aloud, in front of the world,” Chalton told ABC News in a statement.
“Sitting there, I felt a wave of relief and hope when the judge condemned the actions of the government and ordered that subsidies be restored,” the statement continued. “After so much uncertainty and interruption, he finally felt like justice and the value of our investigation, and the communities in his heart, they affirmed.”
The terminations occurred after President Donald Trump approved a wave of executive orders that include Promet “Defend women from the extremism of gender ideology“And with the aim of dismantling Dei initiatives.
According to the termination letters sent to researchers from several universities that were reviewed by ABC News, the administration said that the canceled projects do not serve the “priorities” of the current administration.
“Research programs based on gender identity are often not scientific, they have little return of identifiable investment and do nothing to improve the health of many Americans. Many of these studies ignore, instead of seriously examining biological realities. It is Nih’s policy not to prioritize these research programs”, some of the termination letters are read.
“The premise … is incompatible with the agency’s priorities, and no modification of the project could align the project with the agency’s priorities,” the letters continued.
Sony Salzman of ABC News contributed to this report.
