ACLU sues NIH over illegal funding cuts to critical research

In the United States, a significant lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) against the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Wednesday. The lawsuit alleges that NIH has been undertaking an 'ideological purge' of research funding, particularly affecting projects related to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as vaccine hesitancy. These funding cuts reportedly involve around 678 research projects, which include essential topics such as breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and HIV prevention, collectively amounting to over $2.4 billion in terminated grants. The ACLU represents four researchers alongside three unions in this case, highlighting the detrimental impact that these funding cancellations have on vital medical research. The lawsuit claims that NIH abruptly canceled many research grants without providing scientifically valid explanations or reasons, justifying these cancellations through directives aimed at ensuring ideological conformity, particularly concerning controversial topics. This approach contradicts the traditional science-based grant review process that NIH is expected to uphold, leading to allegations that these measures may be unconstitutional as they violate federal law. The actions taken by NIH have disrupted hundreds of ongoing research projects, leaving scientists at a standstill and wasting taxpayer money. Among the researchers affected is Brittany Charlton, a professor at Harvard Medical School with a focus on LGBTQ health inequities. Since February, Charlton has experienced five grant terminations. Similarly, Katie Edwards, another plaintiff and a professor at the University of Michigan, saw six of her grants canceled. The implications of these lost projects extend far beyond financial figures; they threaten to halt progress in critical research areas which are necessary for addressing the pressing health challenges faced by various populations. The filings emphasize that the abrupt termination of these projects not only wastes taxpayer dollars but also undermines longstanding efforts to improve health equity and tackle health disparities as mandated by Congress. By dismantling these research trajectories—often midstream—the lawsuit argues NIH has disregarded years of work and investment by many dedicated scientists committed to uncovering medical advancements. The ACLU, along with other plaintiff organizations, aims to restore funding and ensure that the scientific integrity and independence of NIH’s grant processes are preserved against politicized agendas.