The Trump administration is set to review previously frozen health research grants without applying its controversial diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standards. A recent settlement was agreed upon in a federal court in Massachusetts on December 29, which involved the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a coalition of Democratic attorneys general.
Details of the Settlement Agreement
Under the terms of this agreement, the NIH will evaluate grant applications submitted until September 29, 2025, without the burdens of the prior DEI guidelines. This decision allows the NIH to continue processing grant applications while the courts deliberate on the legality of the administration’s DEI criteria.
Implications for Health Research Funding
The settlement indicates that NIH officials will assess each grant application through the standard scientific review process. They will refrain from using the controversial DEI standards during this evaluation. The following states’ attorneys general were involved in the settlement:
- Massachusetts
- California
- Maryland
- Washington
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Wisconsin
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell commented on the settlement, emphasizing that it will allow for a prompt and standard timeline in considering NIH grant applications.
Background on the Legal Challenge
The coalition of attorneys general initiated legal action in April concerning $783 million in frozen grants. Initially, both a trial court and an appeals court in Massachusetts supported the states’ arguments. However, a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in August determined that the trial judge did not possess the authority to mandate the issuance of these grants, particularly in light of previous decisions relating to the Education Department.
The future of health research funding under the Trump administration may still face scrutiny, as the administration has not entirely abandoned its evaluation strategy based on DEI. However, the settlement marks a significant shift towards more traditional funding processes without the controversial criteria.
