22 states sue to block Trump cuts to NIH research payments

SUMMARY

Attorneys general from 22 states have filed a lawsuit attempting to block President Trump's administration's decision to cap indirect research costs at 15%, a move aimed at slashing wasteful spending within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The change would reduce billions spent on administrative and facility costs, saving taxpayers $4 billion annually, which could then be redirected toward more impactful areas of research. Critics, mostly from Democrat-led states, argue that the cuts would hurt scientific progress, but the Trump administration argues that this is a necessary step to curb government inefficiency and ensure taxpayer dollars are used more effectively. The NIH's proposed changes come after concerns over the rising costs of research overheads, with $9 billion of the $35 billion in grants last year going to such expenses. The lawsuit challenges the authority of the NIH to make these changes, claiming it violates congressional law.