The TRO In Boston (Against Tangerine 2.0's NIH Slashes): Now Nationwide -- Next Hearing February 21, 2025.

The purported 15% cap that Tangerine is trying to force down the throats of grantees. . . would amount to hundreds of millions in lost research dollars at universities across the nation. And would threaten our leads in the life-sciences. [It is also contrary to the commands made by Congress several decades ago, at 42 U.S.C. § 241(a)(3).] Damn (all so Musk might be able to put boots on Mars?!). Here's the latest memo of law from the universities.

[Backgrounder here.] The good news -- like all the other Tangerine Black Sharpie scribbles. . . is that he will lose. This is beyond his remit, at 1600 Penn. He needs. . . an entirely new Act of Congress for this. [One he's very unlikely to be able to push through.] Here's STAT on it all:

. . .A federal judge in Boston ordered a nationwide temporary pause on plans by the National Institutes of Health to substantially slash research overhead payments to universities, medical centers, and other grant recipients.

Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued the temporary restraining order late Monday night in response to a lawsuit filed that afternoon by associations representing the nation’s medical, pharmacy, and public health schools, as well as Boston and New York-area hospitals. The suit names the NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, and the acting heads of both agencies as defendants.

The [Tangerine 2.0] NIH order, which was announced Friday and was effective as of Monday morning, imposed a 15% cap on NIH support for indirect costs -- administrative and facilities expenses linked to research. Institutions generally receive 30% to 70% on top of direct research costs, and there remains deep concern the plan would hamper institutions and stall biomedical research. . . .

Now you know. Onward, resolutely -- I think Trump is now about 0-15, on his lawless executive "orders", in the courts. Grin.

नमस्ते