Judge rules some NIH grant cuts illegal, saying he's never seen such discrimination in 40 years
WASHINGTON (AP) A federal judge ruled Monday it was illegal for the Trump administration to cancel several hundred research grants, adding that the cuts raise serious questions about racial discrimination.
U.S. District Judge William Young in Massachusetts said the administrations process was arbitrary and capricious and that it did not follow long-held government rules and standards when it abruptly canceled grants deemed to focus on gender identity or diversity, equity and inclusion.
In a hearing Monday on two cases calling for the grants to be restored, the judge pushed government lawyers to offer a formal definition of DEI, questioning how grants could be canceled for that reason when some were designed to study health disparities as Congress had directed.
Young, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, went on to address what he called a darker aspect to the cases, calling it palpably clear that what was behind the government actions was racial discrimination and discrimination against Americas LGBTQ community.
https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/national-politics/nih-grant-cuts-trump-6ITOTMWXSZBLPGMUKUYWD3E3WM/