Economic Fallout: Universities Sound the Alarm
The legal battle, triggered by a 16-state coalition and later joined by the American Public Health Association, alleges that NIH’s cuts violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the Public Health Service Act, and constitutional separation of powers.
The impact has been swift and severe:
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University of Massachusetts was forced to cancel graduate scholarships.
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University of Washington warned it may lay off or furlough staff due to 73 endangered grants worth $61 million.
Massachusetts Deputy Solicitor Gerard Cedrone argued the cuts clearly undermine congressional mandates to improve health outcomes for underrepresented groups.
“It’s hard to see how this aligns with the Public Health Service Act,” Cedrone told the court, “which requires thoughtful advancement of minority, women’s, and LGBTQ health.”
DOJ Defense Meets Fiery Skepticism
Thomas Ports, representing the U.S. Department of Justice, contended that DEI-based grants were canceled for relying on “nonscientific” criteria and potentially supporting unlawful bias. But Judge Young demanded proof.
“Point me to anywhere in this record… where these grants support unlawful discrimination,” Young challenged.
Ports’ response: “There’s nothing I can point the court to.”
