A Massachusetts judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot terminate ongoing federal grants solely because administration priorities have changed, creating a potential obstacle to recent grant cancellations affecting health research funding.
What happened: The court found that agencies may not cancel existing grants solely because policy priorities changed after funding was awarded. Agencies may continue to establish priorities for future funding opportunities.
Research impact: The case involves federal health research grants, including projects that have been suspended or terminated as agencies reassess funding priorities.
What’s next: The decision is expected to be appealed as debates continue over federal research funding and grantmaking policies. The case may bolster the arguments of the CAP and other organizations against the Trump administration’s pending proposal to alter federal funding guidelines.