On February 10, 2025, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel co-led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for unlawfully cutting funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country. The coalition challenged the Trump administration’s attempt to unilaterally cut “indirect cost” reimbursements at every research institution throughout the country. These reimbursements cover expenses to facilitate biomedical research, including lab, faculty, infrastructure, and utility costs. Without them, the lifesaving and life-changing medical research—in which the United States has long been a leader—could be compromised.

On February 7, 2025, the NIH announced it would abruptly slash indirect cost rates to an across-the-board 15% rate, which is significantly less than the cost required to perform cutting-edge medical research. The NIH purported to make this cut effective the very next business day, February 10, 2025 – giving universities and institutions no time to plan for the enormous budget gaps they would face. Without immediate relief, this action could result in the suspension of lifesaving and life-extending clinical trials, disruption of research programs, layoffs, and laboratory closures.

On March 5, 2025, the coalition secured a nationwide preliminary injunction protecting critical funds that facilitate biomedical research. On April 4, 2025, the coalition secured a permanent injunction blocking the proposed funding cuts. On April 8, 2025, the defendants filed a notice of appeal of the permanent injunction.

Massachusetts is the medical research capital of the country. We are the proud home of nation-leading universities and research institutions that save lives, create jobs, and help secure a better future. We will not allow the Trump Administration to unlawfully undermine our economy, hamstring our competitiveness, or play politics with our public health. Attorney General Andrea Campbell