A federal court in Massachusetts has struck down the National Institutes of Health's decision to cancel grants that fund biomedical research.
The court ruled that NIH's actions targeting research involving certain "disfavored" topics and populations were unlawful, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The court ordered that the grants be restored.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Judge William Young said during a nonjury trial that the NIH violated federal law in canceling more than $1 billion in research grants because of their perceived connection to DEI initiatives, according to NBC News. Young said he was reinstating grants that had been awarded to organizations and Democratic-led states that sued over the terminations.
The court accused the government of discriminating against racial minorities and LGBTQ people.
"This represents racial discrimination and discrimination against America's LGBTQ community," said Young, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, according to the NBC report. "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."
The Department of Health and Human Services said it would consider an appeal of the order.
THE LARGER TREND
In April, the American Public Health Association, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and others sued the National Institutes of Health, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others over the funding termination.
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org