← All Cases Coverage by Bryan K. Randolph · BrynoDC

Commonwealth of Massachuetts v. NIH

No. 1:25-cv-10338 District · Decided Decided

Case Overview

A coalition of state attorneys general sued the National Institute of Health, the acting NIH Director, HHS, and the acting HHS secretary over the Trump administration's new 14% cap on overhead for federal research grants, alleging that it violates the Administrative Procedures Act. This case was consolidated with similar cases brought by the Association of American Medical Colleges and Association of American Universities.


The Application

History

The consolidated plaintiffs, state attorneys general, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the Association of American Universities, challenged the cap as arbitrary because NIH failed to explain how reducing overhead from historical levels would affect research institutions' indirect costs, compliance capabilities, and federal grant administration without violating statutory constraints on agency discretion.

The Conclusion

Judge Angel Kelley decided the consolidated cases on whether the 14% overhead cap satisfies APA requirements for notice, comment, and reasoned agency action.

CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
FiledFeb 10, 2025
Judge Angel Kelley
CL Statusterminated
View on CourtListener →

No circuit court data for this case.

No Supreme Court data for this case.

Outcome History (4)

  1. Feb 21, 2025 District
    TRO granted Partial relief

    District Judge Kelley extended the existing temporary restraining order to remain in effect until further order resolving the request for a preliminary injunction.

  2. Mar 5, 2025 District
    Preliminary injunction granted Full relief

    District Judge Kelley granted the motion for a preliminary injunction, enjoining the enforcement of the Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement.

  3. Apr 4, 2025 District
    Preliminary injunction granted Full relief Final

    District Judge Kelley granted the motion to convert the preliminary injunction into a permanent injunction and entered final judgment.

  4. Jan 5, 2026 Circuit
    Affirmed Partial relief Final

    U.S. Court of Appeals judgment affirming the district court's permanent injunction.

Federal Court TMR-bd742d56 Research Grant Cap May 14, 2026
Subscribe on Substack ↗

This tracker is maintained by BrynoDC and is free because readers fund it. Support