Attorney General Bonta Secures Nationwide Preliminary Injunction Blocking Trump Administration’s NIH Funding Cuts

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts issuing a preliminary injunction that continues blocking the Trump Administration’s unlawful and drastic National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding cuts from taking effect. The preliminary injunction is in effect with respect to institutions nationwide until further order by the court. 

“Last month, my fellow attorneys general and I secured a temporary restraining order, which blocked the Trump Administration from eviscerating funding for life-saving medical research. Now, we have secured a preliminary injunction that continues barring the Trump Administration from implementing the NIH funding cuts,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The court’s order also notes that we are likely to succeed on the merits of our claims. As we have said before, we will not allow President Trump to play politics with our public health or to break the law.” 

On February 10, 2025, Attorney General Bonta, as part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, announced suing the Trump Administration over the NIH funding cuts and sought a temporary restraining order. Less than six hours later, the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts granted the temporary restraining order. On February 21, 2025, the court held a preliminary injunction hearing, and in advance of the hearing, Attorney General Bonta and his fellow attorneys general released a joint statement.  

A copy of the court’s order granting the preliminary injunction can be found here.