Supreme Court Appeal: Trump’s NIH Grant Cuts Challenge

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In an escalating legal battle, the Trump administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to approve its plan to cut billions from NIH grants, claiming that diversity programs misappropriate federal funds. This request comes despite a ruling by Judge William Young to halt these cuts due to violations of federal law.

The NIH, known as the world’s largest funder of biomedical research, is embroiled in controversy. Trump’s budget blueprint aims to reshape government spending and reduce funding, which critics argue politicizes scientific inquiry and negatively impacts global healthcare outcomes.

With a conservative-majority Supreme Court often favoring the administration, this latest legal move seeks to overturn lower court decisions, emphasizing the need for administrative coherence and legal conformity. Meanwhile, resistance grows, highlighting broader debates on government roles in diversity and gender-related initiatives.

(With inputs from agencies.)

In a unique start to his ruling against President Donald Trump’s administration on September 30, U.S. District Court Judge William Young included a scanned handwritten note sent to his office. The note read: “Trump has pardons and tanks – what do you have?” At the top of Young’s opinion in AAUP v. Rubio, which ruled that Trump’s effort to deport foreign-born student protesters was unconstitutional.

October 8, 2025

📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz

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What is the Trump administration's main argument for cutting billions from NIH grants?

A. The cuts are necessary to reduce overall government spending. B. Diversity programs misappropriate federal funds, according to the administration. C. NIH has exceeded its budget allocation without proper justification. D. The NIH is not effectively managing its research projects.

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