Supreme Court Lets Trump Admin Cut Off Health Grants Linked to DEI Policies

Aug 24, 2025, 2:12 AM

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The US Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to halt federal funding for more than 1,700 health research grants it claims advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts or promote "gender ideology extremism." In a 5-4 decision, the justices overturned an order by Boston-based US District Judge William Young, who had mandated the National Institutes of Health (NIH) restore funding for grants focused on heart disease, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's research, and mental health studies .

The ruling permits the administration to withhold funds while legal challenges proceed, with the Trump team likely to frame this as a victory in its broader campaign against DEI initiatives. Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the conservative majority to lift Young’s June 2025 order, which had required NIH to reinstate grants impacted by Trump’s anti-DEI policies. Barrett argued that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over grant termination disputes, which should be handled in the US Court of Federal Claims .

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, criticizing the majority for enabling what Jackson called a "bizarre" decision that forces grantees into a "likely futile, multivenue quest." Jackson warned the ruling could lead to "animals used in medical experiments being euthanized" due to delayed funding . Roberts joined dissenters in condemning US District Judge Young’s ruling, which had accused the administration of engaging in racial discrimination against LGBTQ communities by cutting grants studying disease impacts on minority groups .

The decision leaves grant recipients without federal funds until the legal fight resolves. The Trump administration has appealed Young’s order to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, which recently denied a request to pause the case while the appeal unfolds. Legal experts note that the Court of Federal Claims could eventually award damages if it finds grants were illegally terminated, but immediate relief remains unlikely .

The ruling reflects broader tensions over DEI policies in health research. Trump’s 2025 executive orders targeted programs addressing structural racism and transgender healthcare, with the administration arguing these initiatives violate "the immutable biological reality of sex" . Critics warn that cutting diversity-focused grants risks exacerbating health disparities, as underrepresented populations often face barriers to clinical trials and equitable care. Kyle McAllister of Trially warned that reduced funding for minority-specific research could widen care gaps and stall progress on vaccines targeting marginalized communities .

The case underscores the politicization of scientific funding. While the Supreme Court’s decision allows cuts to continue, it does not resolve the legality of the terminations. The administration’s appeal highlights ongoing debates over whether DEI initiatives constitute "gender ideology extremism," a label critics argue is used to suppress research on racial and gender disparities in health outcomes. As the legal battle continues, researchers warn that delayed funding could disrupt critical studies on conditions disproportionately affecting minority groups .

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