Researchers have filed a class action lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health (NIH), alleging that the Trump administration is blocking and canceling scientific grants to suppress research on topics it disagrees with. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco on Wednesday, is supported by organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Center for Science in the Public Interest. It claims that the administration has used a list of 235 keywords—such as "gender" and "racist"—to prevent studies on issues like health equity and climate change from receiving funding. The NIH is the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research, and the lawsuit argues that the government is violating the First Amendment by censoring speech it dislikes. Ann Cohen, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, described how her Alzheimer’s disease research was affected by the policy. Her team had spent over a decade building trust with communities historically excluded from research, aiming to improve early detection and treatment. Losing NIH funding forced the cancellation of appointments for participants and delayed critical data analysis, putting years of progress at risk. Cohen emphasized that the research benefits everyone, but the funding cuts have disrupted the work and the relationships built with those communities. The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration is using federal research funding to suppress views it disapproves of, pressuring scientists to self-censor or risk losing funding. Olga Akselrod, senior counsel in the ACLU’s Racial Justice Program, stated that while NIH can choose which topics to fund, it cannot do so in a way that violates existing laws or the First Amendment. The administration’s use of a keyword list adds an ideological layer to the traditional peer review process, which has historically been based on scientific merit. In 2025, the administration canceled thousands of grants across government, disrupting more than 5,700 at the NIH, though over 4,500 have since been restored. Arghavan Salles, a surgeon and clinical associate professor at Stanford University, highlighted how the keyword restrictions affect her research on gender equity and sexual harassment in science and medicine. She said she can no longer use terms like "gender" or "sexual harassment" without risking funding, arguing that scientists should not have to alter their work to align with government preferences. The lawsuit seeks to cover all researchers whose grants have not been restored by court orders, as well as those who have faced delays or denials. The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the NIH, has not yet responded to requests for comment.