Attorney General Ellison sues Trump Administration for illegal cuts to medical and public health innovation research

Joins coalition of 22 AGs in challenging NIH funding for universities and research institutions, alleging cuts violate federal law

NIH awarded $65M to Minnesota institutions in 2025 alone

February 10, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison today co-led a coalition of 22 state attorneys general today in suing the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for unlawfully cutting funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country.

The coalition is challenging the Trump Administration’s attempt to unilaterally cut “indirect cost” reimbursements at every research institution throughout the country. These reimbursements cover expenses to facilitate biomedical research, like lab, faculty, infrastructure, and utility costs. Without them, the lifesaving and life-changing medical research in which the United States has long been a leader, could be compromised.

Indirect cost reimbursements are based on each institution’s unique needs, negotiated with the federal government through a carefully regulated process, and then memorialized in an executed agreement. The Trump Administration purports to toss those agreements aside, putting public health and medical advancements at risk. The coalition’s lawsuit seeks to prevent that reckless and illegal conduct.

The NIH reports that in 2025, it awarded $65 million to 5 Minnesota institutions, including $37 million to the University of Minnesota and $29 million to the Mayo Clinic.

“The NIH funds critical research into fighting chronic and catastrophic disease in every corner of our country, in red states and blue. Its work has an impact on countless families across America and helps keep us healthy and extend our lives. Abruptly and arbitrarily slashing funding for the NIH isn’t only dangerous and cruel, it’s against the law,” Attorney General Ellison said. “Once again, I’m joining with my attorney general colleagues to protect all Americans’ health and well-being against the Trump Administrations assaults and to hold the Administration accountable in court to following the laws that they are bound to uphold.”

On Friday, February 7, the NIH announced it would abruptly slash indirect cost rates to an across-the-board 15% rate, which is significantly less than the cost required to perform cutting-edge medical research. The NIH purported to make this cut effective the very next business day — today, Monday, February 10 — giving universities and institutions no time to plan for the enormous budget gaps they are now facing. Without immediate relief, this action could result in the suspension of lifesaving and life-extending clinical trials, disruption of research programs, layoffs, and laboratory closures.

In the lawsuit, filed today in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, Attorney General Ellison and the coalition argues that this action violates the Administrative Procedure Act, including a directive Congress passed during President Trump’s first term to fend off his earlier proposal to drastically cut research reimbursements. That statutory language, still in effect, prohibits the NIH from requiring categorial and indiscriminate changes to indirect cost reimbursements. The coalition is seeking a court order barring the Trump Administration and NIH from implementing the action.

The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for medical research in the United States. Medical research funding by NIH grants have led to innumerable scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of treatment for cancers of all types, the first sequencing of DNA and the development of the MRI. Additionally, dozens of NIH-supported scientists have earned Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking scientific work.

Joining Attorney General Ellison in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan who co-led the coalition and the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.