Latest news with #WilliamYoung
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
20 NIH grants restored to UMass system after judge rules against Trump admin
Twenty grants from the National Institutes of Health previously awarded to the University of Massachusetts system will be restored after a Monday court order from a federal judge. U.S. District Court Judge William Young ordered the Trump administration to restore more than 360 NIH grants nationwide that were the subject of two lawsuits — one filed by affected individuals and industry organizations, the other by 16 state attorneys general, including Massachusetts. The restored grants are only a sliver of the NIH grant cancellations — 2,282 grants amounting to nearly $3.8 billion of lost funding as of June 4, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Young declared the cancellations 'illegal,' saying he had 'never seen government racial discrimination like this' in his 40 years on the bench. Many canceled grants were related to LGBTQ communities, racial minorities and other topics considered 'diversity, equity and inclusion' (or DEI) by the Trump administration. Read more: Federal judge orders Trump admin to reinstate hundreds of NIH grants The federal government now has the opportunity to appeal Young's initial order in the cases. As part of the Monday order, 20 grants are slated to be restored to the UMass system. Listed by grant awardee, they are: UMass Chan Medical School — 'Pathway to graduate study post-baccalaureate training program' UMass Lowell — 'Longitudinal Mechanisms of Food and Nutrition Security and Cardiometabolic Health in PROSPECT' UMass Chan Medical School — 'Structural Racism and Engagement of Family Caregivers in Serious Illness Care' UMass Boston — 'U54 Comprehensive Partnership for Cancer Disparities Research' University of Massachusetts — 'Optimizing an mHealth intervention to improve uptake and adherence of the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in vulnerable adolescents and emerging adults' University of Massachusetts — 'Applying Deep Learning for Predicting Retention in PrEP Care and Effective PrEP Use among Key Populations at Risk for HIV in Thailand' University of Massachusetts — 'Effect of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations on Behavioral Health Care Quality and Outcomes for Children' University of Massachusetts — 'Adapting Effective mHealth Interventions to Improve Uptake and Adherence to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Thai Young MSM' University of Massachusetts — 'Faithful Response II: COVID-19 Rapid Test-to-Treat with African American Churches' University of Massachusetts — 'Training the Long-Term Services and Supports Dementia Care Workforce in Provision of Care to Sexual and Gender Minority Residents' University of Massachusetts — 'Pathway to graduate study post-baccalaureate training program' University of Massachusetts — 'Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups with Rheumatic Diseases' University of Massachusetts — 'Regulated Proteolysis in Bacteria Development and Stress Response' University of Massachusetts — 'IRACDA at Tufts University' (postdoctoral training) University of Massachusetts — 'Deciphering the Molecular Features Underlying LRP1-Mediated Tau Spread (Diversity Supplement)' University of Massachusetts — 'Bacterial and Molecular Determinants of Mycobacterial Impermeability' University of Massachusetts — 'Initiative for Maximizing Student Development at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School' University of Massachusetts — 'Improving the Part C Early Intervention Service Delivery System for Children with ASD: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Diversity Supplement)' University of Massachusetts — 'ASHA Bangladesh — An Integrated Intervention to Address Depression in Low Income Rural Women' University of Massachusetts — 'Outlining Shadows of Structural Racism Using Publicly Available Social Determinants of Health Data' In a statement Monday night, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell called the court ruling 'a win for us all and a rebuke of the discriminatory actions carried out by this Administration. 'We won't let this Administration play politics with our public health or violate the law,' Campbell said. 'I look forward to seeing these federal funds restored to life-saving and critical health care and research.' A Harvard Medical School associate professor is also slated to see her canceled grants restored. Brittany Charlton, founding director of the LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, is one of the individual plaintiffs suing. Her NIH funding to study the mental health of young LGBTQ people was cut in March, affecting a team of 18 researchers and causing students to fear for their safety. As federal funding cuts hit Harvard, a private investment firm and other donors step up Trump admin asks court to rule against Harvard without a trial Federal judge orders Trump admin to reinstate hundreds of NIH grants Federal judge delays decision over Trump admin barring Harvard foreign students Harvard's Monday court date will be important for international students. Here's why Read the original article on MassLive.
Medscape
3 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Judge Deems Trump's National Institutes Of Health Grant Cuts Illegal
BOSTON (Reuters) -A federal judge in Boston on Monday said the termination of National Institutes of Health grants for research on diversity-related topics by President Donald Trump's administration was "void and illegal," and accused the government of discriminating against racial minorities and LGBT people. U.S. District Judge William Young during a non-jury trial said the NIH violated federal law by arbitrarily canceling more than $1 billion in research grants because of their perceived connection to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Young said he was reinstating grants that had been awarded to organizations and Democratic-led states that sued over the terminations. And the judge indicated that as the case proceeds he could issue a more sweeping decision. "This represents racial discrimination and discrimination against America's LGBTQ community," said Young, an appointee of Republican former President Ronald Reagan. "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." Referring to the termination of grants for research related to issues involving racial minorities, the judge said he had in four decades on the bench "never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable." "You are bearing down on people of color because of their color," the judge said, referring to Trump's administration. "The Constitution will not permit that." Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said the agency stands by its decision to end funding for research "that prioritized ideological agendas over scientific rigor and meaningful outcomes for the American people," and is considering an appeal. "Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration, HHS is committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars support programs rooted in evidence-based practices and gold standard science – not driven by divisive DEI mandates or gender ideology," Nixon said in a statement, referring to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Rachel Meeropol of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the grant recipients who sued, said Young's ruling applies to hundreds of grants. The plaintiffs include the American Public Health Association, a membership organization for public health researchers, and 16 states led by Massachusetts. The NIH, the world's leading funder of biomedical and behavioral research, has terminated 2,100 research grants totaling about $9.5 billion and an additional $2.6 billion in contracts since Trump took office in January, according to a letter that dozens of NIH employees signed last week, protesting the cuts. The funding cuts are part of Trump's wide-ranging actions to reshape the government, slash federal spending and end government support for DEI programs and transgender healthcare. The administration's plans to cut 10,000 jobs at health agencies including NIH have been temporarily blocked by another federal judge. Trump also has signed a series of executive orders requiring agencies to ensure grant funds do not promote "gender ideology" and to end support of what it sees as discriminatory DEI programs. Conservative critics of DEI programs have portrayed them as discriminatory against white people and certain others. In line with Trump's policy agenda, the NIH has instructed staff to terminate grant funding for studies related to DEI programs, transgender issues, COVID-19 and ways to curb vaccine hesitancy, and grants that could potentially benefit Chinese universities. The trial that Young held on Monday concerned only some of the claims in the consolidated lawsuits over the cuts. The judge will consider others later. Young said he would give the parties an opportunity to present further evidence before he rules on those claims and decides whether to reinstate grants beyond those awarded to the plaintiffs. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey in a statement said Young's ruling was welcome, but that the NIH cuts had already halted crucial research into cures for disease including cancer and Alzheimer's. "He forced our research universities to lay off staff and rescind PhD offers. And he handed China and other foreign countries the opportunity to recruit away our researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs," said Healey, a Democrat. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York and Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Will Dunham and Matthew Lewis)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Federal judge rules Tump directives canceling NIH grants are 'void,' 'illegal'
A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled on Monday that directives from the Trump administration that led to the cancellations of several research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were "void" and "illegal." U.S. District Judge William Young said the cancellation of the grants -- related to studies involving LGBTQ+ issues, gender identity and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) -- violated federal law, saying it was a case of racial discrimination and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, according to the plaintiffs in the case. Two lawsuits had been filed against the administration: One led by the American Public Health Association and the other filed by a group of 16 states. Some estimates have suggested that up to $1.8 billion in research funding had been cut. MORE: NIH terminating active research grants related to LGBTQ+, DEI studies Young, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, said he was ordering the NIH to restore the grants that were terminated. In a statement, Andrew Nixon, the director of communications for the Department of Health and Human Services, said the agency stands by its decision to end funding for research "that prioritized ideological agendas over scientific rigor and meaningful outcomes for the American people. Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration, HHS is committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars support programs rooted in evidence-based practices and gold standard science – not driven by divisive DEI mandates or gender ideology." Nixon said HHS is "exploring all legal options, including filing an appeal and moving to stay the order." Among the plaintiffs is Dr. Brittany Charlton, an associate professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who had all her grants terminated by the NIH. One of the terminated grants focused on documenting obstetrical outcomes for lesbian, gay and bisexual women and another focused on how discriminatory laws impact mental health among LGBTQ+ teens. "As a plaintiff, I felt truly seen -- it was a rare moment when the deep harm caused to researchers and the communities we serve was acknowledged out loud, in front of the world," Charlton told ABC News in a statement. "Sitting there, I felt a wave of relief and hope as the judge condemned the government's actions and ordered the grants to be reinstated," the statement continued. "After so much uncertainty and disruption, it finally felt like justice and the value of our research -- and the communities at its heart -- were being affirmed." The terminations came after President Donald Trump passed a flurry of executive orders including vowing to "defend women from gender ideology extremism" and aiming to dismantle DEI initiatives. MORE: Judge blocks Trump administration's move to cut billions in NIH scientific funding According to termination letters sent to researchers at various universities that were reviewed by ABC News, the administration said the canceled projects do not serve the "priorities" of the current administration. "Research programs based on gender identity are often unscientific, have little identifiable return on investment, and do nothing to enhance the health of many Americans. Many such studies ignore, rather than seriously examine, biological realities. It is the policy of NIH not to prioritize these research programs," some of the termination letters read. "The premise…is incompatible with agency priorities, and no modification of the project could align the project with agency priorities," the letters continued. ABC News' Sony Salzman contributed to this report. Federal judge rules Tump directives canceling NIH grants are 'void,' 'illegal' originally appeared on
4 days ago
- Health
Federal judge rules Tump directives canceling NIH grants are 'void,' 'illegal'
A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled on Monday that directives from the Trump administration that led to the cancellations of several research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were "void" and "illegal." U.S. District Judge William Young said the cancellation of the grants -- related to studies involving LGBTQ+ issues, gender identity and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) -- violated federal law, saying it was a case of racial discrimination and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, according to the plaintiffs in the case. Two lawsuits had been filed against the administration: One led by the American Public Health Association and the other filed by a group of 16 states. Some estimates have suggested that up to $1.8 billion in research funding had been cut. Young, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, said he was ordering the NIH to restore the grants that were terminated. In a statement, Andrew Nixon, the director of communications for the Department of Health and Human Services, said the agency stands by its decision to end funding for research "that prioritized ideological agendas over scientific rigor and meaningful outcomes for the American people. Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration, HHS is committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars support programs rooted in evidence-based practices and gold standard science – not driven by divisive DEI mandates or gender ideology." Nixon said HHS is "exploring all legal options, including filing an appeal and moving to stay the order." Among the plaintiffs is Dr. Brittany Charlton, an associate professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who had all her grants terminated by the NIH. One of the terminated grants focused on documenting obstetrical outcomes for lesbian, gay and bisexual women and another focused on how discriminatory laws impact mental health among LGBTQ+ teens. "As a plaintiff, I felt truly seen -- it was a rare moment when the deep harm caused to researchers and the communities we serve was acknowledged out loud, in front of the world," Charlton told ABC News in a statement. "Sitting there, I felt a wave of relief and hope as the judge condemned the government's actions and ordered the grants to be reinstated," the statement continued. "After so much uncertainty and disruption, it finally felt like justice and the value of our research -- and the communities at its heart -- were being affirmed." The terminations came after President Donald Trump passed a flurry of executive orders including vowing to " defend women from gender ideology extremism" and aiming to dismantle DEI initiatives. According to termination letters sent to researchers at various universities that were reviewed by ABC News, the administration said the canceled projects do not serve the "priorities" of the current administration. "Research programs based on gender identity are often unscientific, have little identifiable return on investment, and do nothing to enhance the health of many Americans. Many such studies ignore, rather than seriously examine, biological realities. It is the policy of NIH not to prioritize these research programs," some of the termination letters read. "The premise…is incompatible with agency priorities, and no modification of the project could align the project with agency priorities," the letters continued.
CNN
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Judge rules some NIH grant cuts illegal, saying he's never seen such discrimination in 40 years
A federal judge ruled Monday it was illegal for the Trump administration to cancel several hundred research grants, adding that the cuts raise serious questions about racial discrimination. U.S. District Judge William Young in Massachusetts said the administration's process was 'arbitrary and capricious' and that it did not follow long-held government rules and standards when it abruptly canceled grants deemed to focus on gender identity or diversity, equity and inclusion. In a hearing Monday on two cases calling for the grants to be restored, the judge pushed government lawyers to offer a formal definition of DEI, questioning how grants could be canceled for that reason when some were designed to study health disparities as Congress had directed. Young, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, went on to address what he called 'a darker aspect' to the cases, calling it 'palpably clear' that what was behind the government actions was 'racial discrimination and discrimination against America's LGBTQ community.' After 40 years on the bench, 'I've never seen government racial discrimination like this,' Young added. He ended Monday's hearing saying, 'Have we no shame.' During his remarks ending the hearing, the judge said he would issue his written order soon. Young's decision addresses only a fraction of the hundreds of NIH research projects the Trump administration has cut — those specifically addressed in two lawsuits filed separately this spring by 16 attorneys general, public health advocacy groups and some affected scientists. A full count wasn't immediately available. While Young said the funding must be restored, Monday's action was an interim step. The ruling, when formally issued, is expected to be appealed. The Trump administration didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. While the original lawsuits didn't specifically claim racial discrimination, they said the new NIH policies prohibited 'research into certain politically disfavored subjects.' In a filing this month after the lawsuits were consolidated, lawyers said the NIH did not highlight genuine concerns with the hundreds of canceled research projects studies, but instead sent 'boilerplate termination letters' to universities. The topics of research ranged widely, including cardiovascular health, sexually transmitted infections, depression, Alzheimer's and alcohol abuse in minors, among other things. Attorneys cited projects such as one tracking how medicines may work differently in people of ancestrally diverse backgrounds, and said the cuts affected more than scientists — such as potential harm to patients in a closed study of suicide treatment. Lawyers for the federal government said in a court filing earlier this month that NIH grant terminations for DEI studies were 'sufficiently reasoned,' adding later that 'plaintiffs may disagree with NIH's basis, but that does not make the basis arbitrary and capricious.' The NIH, lawyers argued, has 'broad discretion' to decide on and provide grants 'in alignment with its priorities' — which includes ending grants. Monday, Justice Department lawyer Thomas Ports Jr. pointed to 13 examples of grants related to minority health that NIH either hadn't cut or had renewed in the same time period — and said some of the cancellations were justified by the agency's judgement that the research wasn't scientifically valuable. The NIH has long been the world's largest public funder of biomedical research.
