MD ATTORNEY GENERAL ANTHONY BROWN SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR DEFUNDING MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION RESEARCH

State of MD - A coalition of 22 attorneys general, led by Attorney General Anthony Brown, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The coalition alleges that these entities have illegally cut crucial funding for innovative medical and public health research across the country.

This lawsuit responds to attempts to reduce reimbursements for "indirect costs" at research institutions nationwide.

These reimbursements are essential for covering the expenses associated with biomedical research, including laboratory costs, faculty salaries, infrastructure, and utility expenses. The coalition argues that cutting these funds could seriously compromise critical medical research, an area in which the United States has historically been a global leader.

In an unusual move, the Trump administration seems to be disregarding previously established agreements between the federal government and research institutions. The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, challenges this action, claiming it jeopardizes public health and progress in medicine.

Much of the NIH-funded research occurs outside government institutions, primarily in public and private universities and colleges. In Maryland alone, over $300 million in NIH funding goes directly to the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the University of Maryland, College Park. The proposed cuts to the Indirect Cost Rate could drastically reduce funding for these institutions, threatening their research programs.

Attorney General Brown acknowledges the significant impact these cuts could have. "Maryland's research institutions have pioneered treatments that have saved countless lives, but they cannot continue this vital work without proper funding," he stated. This lawsuit aims to safeguard the state's position as a global leader in medical research and prevent delays in potentially lifesaving discoveries.

Source: MD Attorney Generals' Office Press Release