Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement regarding a federal judge’s injunction blocking President Trump’s attempt to cut grant funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research institutions:

“American institutions of higher education, including public and private universities in the Triangle, conduct research that directly contributes to lifesaving cures for a range of deadly diseases and conditions. The Administration’s attempt to slash NIH funding for these institutions is disgraceful. It wouldn’t just hurt our universities and our local economy – the ultimate victims of President Trump’s cuts would be patients and their families. While thankfully, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the devastating damage these funding cuts would cause, this fight is far from over.

“My staff and I have heard directly from university officials and researchers about the impact that Trump’s recent actions would have on their ability to continue groundbreaking research on cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and other ailments that kill millions of Americans. Short-sighted doesn’t begin to describe this senseless decision. If allowed to proceed, the ramifications of NIH funding cuts would extend beyond universities and have grave consequences for the greater biomedical industry in the Triangle and beyond.

“Especially in light of recent outbreaks of avian flu and tuberculosis, maintaining robust resources for public health research has never been more important. Unfortunately, President Trump clearly cares more about pursuing petty vendettas than meeting the needs of the American people, including combating deadly diseases. I won’t stop fighting until these life-saving resources are permanently restored and protected from further attacks.”