Lawyers representing University of California professors in the federal lawsuit Thakur v. Trump are asking a judge to issue a final ruling declaring the termination of nearly $2 billion in federal research grants unconstitutional.
The request follows signed court stipulations in which federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), admitted to using internal keyword searches (such as “equity,” “health disparities,” and “sexual orientation”) to identify and cancel grants en masse.
Plaintiffs contend the court filings establish three clear constitutional breaches:
- First Amendment Violations: Suppressing specific viewpoints rather than reviewing individual grant performance.
- Geographic Discrimination: Terminating Department of Energy grants in states that voted for the opposition party in 2024 while leaving grants in other states untouched.
- Impoundment of Funds: Refusing to spend research dollars specifically allocated by Congress.
U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin has previously issued preliminary injunctions ordering the restoration of select grants while the case proceeds. However, the plaintiffs’ legal team is now seeking a permanent summary judgment to protect researchers, graduate assistants, and long-term scientific projects from further disruption.
A formal court hearing on whether to grant the motion is set for October 20.
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