After Cutting $783M In NIH Grants, The Trump Administration Will Review Applications That Were Frozen For Their DEI Efforts

The Trump administration will review grants that were frozen due to ties to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

In August 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to cut $783 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) tied to DEI, according to the Duke Chronicle. The Trump administration has been vocal about eliminating DEI goals, commitments, and roles, which has also influenced corporations, schools, and research, as AFROTECH™ previously reported.

In February 2025, the administration had “slashed” the NIH reimbursement rate, affecting more than 300,000 scientists and researchers at 2,500 institutions, a news release states. This decision was criticized by the Democratic Party.

“The unconstitutional decision by the Trump administration to gut the NIH should shock the conscience. Donald Trump and Elon Musk are illegally destroying our public health infrastructure and canceling research programs — including pediatric cancer research — in order to hand massive tax breaks to billionaires,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in the news release. “Congress appropriated these funds and only Congress has the power to claw them back. House Democrats will continue to push back on this blatant disregard of science and the Constitution, and I thank Reps. Neguse, Raskin, DeLauro, and Pallone, and the Rapid Response Task Force and Litigation Working Group for their leadership.”

In the latest update, the Trump Administration will now be reviewing grants that were frozen, including those related to DEI initiatives. According to News From The States, it will now consider grant applications made up to Sept. 29, 2025, following a settlement agreement.

NIH officials “will complete their consideration of the Applications in the ordinary course of NIH’s scientific review process, without applying the Challenged Directives,” the settlement read, according to the outlet.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said the agreement ensures the Department of Health and Human Services will reinstate “the usual process for considering NIH grant applications on a prompt, agreed-upon timeline.”

It was also mentioned in the settlement that the NIH will “evaluate each application individually and in good faith,” per News From The States.