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Lenny Speiller: (203) 725-4249; Lspeiller@newhavenct.gov
CITY OF NEW HAVEN JOINS WITH CITIES ACROSS U.S. IN FILING AMICUS BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S DRASTIC CUTS TO FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH AND INNOVATION; FEDERAL JUDGE EXTENDS TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
45 mayors, cities, and counties argue that National Institute of Health (NIH) cuts will cause job losses, economic pain, and undermine U.S. competitiveness.
Earlier today, federal judge extends initial Temporary Restraining Order.
NEW HAVEN, CT - On Thursday, the City of New Haven alongside a coalition of cities, counties, and mayors across the United States filed an amicus brief in federal district court in Boston to stop the Trump Administration's drastic and illegal cuts to federal research funding and immediate job losses in cities nationwide. Forty-five mayors, cities, and counties from across the country joined the brief. These cities are home to universities and hospitals that employ hundreds of thousands of Americans in cutting edge medical and scientific research, and the federally-funded research in these communities has made the United States the global leader in scientific discovery. The mayors’ brief seeks a temporary restraining order against the Trump Administration, alongside the research universities, medical schools, hospitals, and 22 states that are plaintiffs in the three cases filed last week in federal district court. Earlier today, U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley in the District of Massachusetts extended their initial Temporary Restraining Order until deciding on a more permanent ruling.
“New Haven stands with our fellow cities across the country in seeking to stop this illegal, irresponsible, and reckless action by the Trump Administration. New Haven is one the nation’s leading hubs for medical and scientific research. From bioscience to life science to quantum, these industries represent thousands of local jobs and millions of dollars to our local economy. But, more importantly, this funding is supporting cutting-edge, lifesaving work that is identifying new medical treatments, curing chronic diseases, and advancing scientific discoveries that improve the everyday lives and wellbeing of our residents,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. “I want to thank my fellow mayors and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong for leading this fight, and I’m encouraged that Judge Kelley has extended their temporary restraining order to prevent these potentially devastating cuts in federal funding.”
This amicus brief is in response to the abrupt February 7, 2025 announcement by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of an immediate reduction in funding for scientific and medical research institutions across the country. Under the NIH’s new policy, which temporarily went into effect on Monday, February 10, payments for indirect costs reimbursed to research universities would be capped at 15%, down from 30-70%. The brief makes clear that NIH funding cuts would devastate research institutions in cities across the county, cause job losses, severe economic disruption, and undermine a critical pillar of strength and civic pride in cities across the United States. The cuts would also undermine critical medical and scientific research that our residents are counting on, including on cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and jeopardize our position of global leadership on scientific advancement.
On Monday, February 10th, twenty two states and associations of medical schools, hospitals, and universities, filed three related cases, and secured a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump Administration from slashing the reimbursement rates. Earlier today, U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley in the District of Massachusetts extended their initial Temporary Restraining Order until deciding on a more permanent ruling.
Yale also submitted a declaration of support that provided information about the ways in which NIH-funded research at Yale and other Connecticut institutions benefits patients in New Haven and across the state and generates jobs and supports innovation benefiting the local and state economy.
The amicus brief was led by the City of Boston, Massachusetts, City of Cleveland, Ohio, the Mayor of Gainesville, Florida, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, and the Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah.
“For decades, Congress has made a clear choice to use federally-funded research to invest in cities, build a broadly-distributed infrastructure for scientific discovery, create jobs, and drive economic growth in communities across the United States,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “We join with cities across the country – in red states, purple states, and blue states – to stop this illegal action that will cause layoffs, lab closures, and undermine scientific progress in American cities. I thank Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell for her leadership on behalf of the research institutions of Boston.”
The Public Rights Project served as amici counsel. The full list of Mayors and Cities who joined the brief is below.
Local Governments and Mayors
- City of Boston, Massachusetts
- City of Cleveland, Ohio
- Harvey L. Ward, Mayor, City of Gainesville, Florida
- Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee
- Erin Mendenhall, Mayor, City of Salt Lake City, Utah
- City of Alameda, California
- City of Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- City of Baltimore, Maryland
- Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Mayor, City of Burlington, Vermont
- Township of Canton, Michigan
- Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- City of Chicago, Illinois
- Sandra Welch, Mayor, City of Coconut Creek, Florida
- City of Columbus, Ohio
- City of Easthampton, Massachusetts
- Daniel Biss, Mayor, City of Evanston, Illinois
- City of Fairfax, Virginia
- Harris County, Texas
- Ravinder S. Bhalla, Mayor, City of Hoboken, New Jersey
- Quinton Lucas, Mayor, Kansas City, Missouri
- Indya Kincannon, Mayor, City of Knoxville, Tennessee
- City of Madison, Wisconsin
- Jeff Silvestrini, Mayor, City of Millcreek, Utah
- Anissa Welch, Mayor, City of Milton, Wisconsin
- Montgomery County, Maryland
- City of New Haven, Connecticut
- Dontae Payne, Mayor, City of Olympia, Washington
- Adrian O. Mapp, Mayor, City of Plainfield, New Jersey
- Sue Noack, Mayor, City of Pleasant Hill, California
- City of Pittsburgh and Ed Gainey, Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- City of Providence, Rhode Island
- John Clark, Mayor, Town of Ridgway, Colorado
- City of Rochester, New York
- City of Sacramento, California
- City and County of San Francisco, California
- City of Santa Monica, California
- Constantine H. Kutteh, Mayor, City of Statesville, North Carolina
- Lisa Brown, Mayor, City of Spokane, Washington
- Tishaura O. Jones, Mayor, City of St. Louis, Missouri
- City of St. Paul, Minnesota
- Dennis R. McBride, Mayor, City of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
