District Court Ruling Finds NIH Grant Terminations Were Illegal

By: Jennifer Zeitzer
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
On July 16, United States District Court Judge William Young issued a bench ruling indicating directives that led to the recent termination of certain grants issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were illegal. Judge Young’s ruling affects grants that were named in two pending court cases challenging the termination of NIH awards, including one filed by 16 state attorneys general and a second lawsuit led by the American Public Health Association (APHA). Although the judge’s ruling will not immediately reinstate the terminated grants, it is an important first step in ensuring that scientists underrepresented in biomedical research have access to funding to pursue research-intensive careers. 

FASEB issued a statement applauding Judge Young’s decision, noting that the federation “is encouraged that the court’s ruling takes a critical step forward in restoring funding that was awarded following a competitive peer-reviewed process.” FASEB also pledged not to back down from its advocacy on behalf of the scientific community. 

In May, FASEB joined the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and seven other leading life science organizations on an amicus brief asking the court to hold recent executive orders resulting in termination of grants supporting young scientists as unlawful. The Amicus brief was filed in relation to the lawsuit led by APHA. 

ASBMB, ASCB, ASM, and FASEB represent four of five organizations funded to support professional development through the NIH Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) grant program. FASEB’s decision to join as an amicus was in line with the Board of Director’s decision to engage in expanded legal advocacy in this challenging environment for science.