Attorney General Mayes Secures Nationwide Preliminary Injunction Against Trump Administration for Defunding Medical and Public Health Innovation Research

PHOENIX – Attorney General Mayes and a coalition of 21 other attorneys general have secured a nationwide preliminary injunction in Massachusetts v. NIH. The order prevents the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from cutting billions of dollars in funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country, regardless of whether their states have joined the lawsuit.

“This ruling is a victory for life-saving medical research and the millions of people who have benefited from it,” said Attorney General Mayes. “The Trump Administration’s reckless attempt to gut critical NIH funding would have derailed groundbreaking innovations and put lives at risk. I will continue to fight to ensure that Arizonans have access to the best medical advancements possible.”

The preliminary injunction protects critical funds that facilitate biomedical research, including lab operations, faculty support, infrastructure, and utility costs. Without this funding, the lifesaving and life-changing medical research that has made the United States a global leader could be compromised.

On February 10, less than six hours after the coalition filed their lawsuit against the Administration, a judge in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order against NIH, barring its attempts to cut the critical research funding. Today’s order replaces the temporary restraining order and prevents the Trump Administration from cutting this essential funding as the case proceeds. The injunction will remain in effect until a final ruling is made.

The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for medical research in the United States. NIH grants have led to groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs, including new cancer treatments and the first sequencing of DNA. Additionally, dozens of NIH-supported scientists have earned Nobel Prizes for their pioneering work.

Attorney General Mayes joined this lawsuit being co-led by the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan. Also joining this coalition are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

A copy of the court order is below.