Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford, alongside a coalition of 21 other attorneys general, has successfully secured a nationwide preliminary injunction in the case Massachusetts v. NIH. This legal order prevents the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from reducing billions in funding dedicated to medical and public health research at universities and research institutions nationwide.
AG Ford expressed his relief over the preservation of crucial funds: “Approximately $50 million was at stake for UNR, UNLV and NSU, and I am thrilled that this funding stream, which is so critical for the health of all Nevadans and Americans, will not be senselessly cut off.” He emphasized the importance of these funds for ongoing research into issues such as opioid overdose prevention.
The injunction protects essential financial support that aids biomedical research activities, including costs related to laboratories, faculty, infrastructure, and utilities. These funds were earmarked specifically for Nevada institutions like UNR, UNLV, and NSU. The potential loss of such funding could have compromised significant medical research efforts where the United States holds a leadership position.
The legal proceedings began on February 10 when a temporary restraining order was issued by a judge in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts against NIH's attempts to cut these funds. The current preliminary injunction now replaces this restraining order while preventing further action from the Trump Administration until a final decision is reached.
The NIH plays a pivotal role as the primary federal source of funding for medical research across America. Grants provided by NIH have historically led to numerous scientific advancements including cancer treatments and DNA sequencing innovations. Furthermore, many NIH-supported scientists have been awarded Nobel Prizes for their contributions to science.
Attorney General Ford's efforts are supported by co-lead states Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan along with attorneys general from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin.