AG Torrez Applauds Ruling Restoring Medical Research Funding

AG: New Mexico Press Releases

Filed June 17th, 2025

Detected March 21st, 2026

Summary

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced a federal court ruling that restores critical medical research funding unlawfully cut by the Trump Administration. The ruling mandates the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reinstate grants that were terminated without proper justification, allowing research projects addressing urgent health challenges to resume.

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What changed

A coalition of 16 attorneys general, led by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, has secured a federal court ruling that blocks and restores critical medical research funding previously terminated by the Trump Administration. The lawsuit challenged the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) abrupt cancellation of dozens of ongoing biomedical research grants, which were justified by vague letters stating the projects "no longer effectuated agency priorities." Judge William G. Young ruled these terminations unlawful, citing procedural impropriety and the risk of serious harm to ongoing studies.

This ruling has immediate implications for research institutions nationwide, ensuring the reinstatement of millions of dollars in awarded grants. Researchers can now resume work on critical projects related to cancer treatment, chronic disease prevention, maternal health, and mental health services. The coalition will submit a proposed order to the court to ensure immediate compliance and reinstatement of the affected grants.

What to do next

Confirm reinstatement of previously terminated NIH research grants.
Review agency communications regarding grant funding status.

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Attorney General Raúl Torrez Applauds Federal Judge’s Ruling Blocking and Restoring the Trump Administration’s Unlawful Cuts to Critical Medical Research Funding

June 17, 2025

Albuquerque, NM – Attorney General Raúl Torrez, along with a coalition of 16 attorneys general, announced a federal court ruling that immediately restores funding for critical medical and public health research grants unlawfully terminated by the Trump Administration. The ruling affirms that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) acted outside the law when it attempted to cancel already-awarded grants, disrupting research projects that are addressing some of the nation’s most urgent health challenges.

“This ruling ensures that researchers can get back to work on the groundbreaking science that protects families, saves lives, and strengthens our public health system,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “These grants support life-saving research—everything from cancer treatment and chronic disease prevention to maternal health and mental health services.”

The lawsuit, filed by a coalition of 16 attorneys general on April 4, challenged the administration’s abrupt termination of biomedical research funding for dozens of projects already underway across the country. NIH issued vague, identical letters to grant recipients, stating the projects “no longer effectuated agency priorities,” without citing any substantive justification.

In a sharply worded opinion, Judge William G. Young ruled the terminations were unlawful and ordered that funding be fully restored, allowing the impacted research institutions to immediately resume their work. The court found that the NIH’s actions were not only procedurally improper, but also risked serious harm to ongoing studies aimed at improving public health outcomes.

Today’s ruling safeguards millions of dollars already awarded to top-tier research teams working on some of the most complex and urgent medical challenges of our time. The coalition will file a proposed order with the court in the coming days to ensure compliance and immediate reinstatement of the grants.