A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration cannot cut off federal health grants based on ties to “gender ideology” or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. U.S. District Judge William Young, a Reagan appointee, declared the move unlawful and ordered that the halted funding be restored immediately. The ruling stems from a February decision by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to revoke grants linked to LGBTQ research, gender identity, and DEI programs. Organizations such as the ACLU, American Public Health Association (APHA), and Ibis Reproductive Health quickly challenged the decision in court—and won. Judge Young found the cuts to be “arbitrary and capricious,” siding with plaintiffs who argued the move was ideologically driven, not based on science or performance.

Georges Benjamin of the APHA praised the decision, calling the administration’s actions “discrimination, pure and simple.” However, the Trump administration signaled it would appeal the ruling. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon defended the cuts, claiming they were meant to shift funding toward “evidence-based practices” and away from “divisive DEI mandates.” While the court has ordered the funds to resume, critics caution that the administration may delay compliance. “Watch what they do with their left hand while distracting with their right,” said Benjamin, accusing officials of previously slow-walking similar court orders. Separately, Attorney General Pam Bondi dropped federal lawsuits related to merit-based hiring tests, signaling a broader rollback of DEI policies. “Public safety must come before DEI quotas,” Bondi said.