Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla has joined a coalition of over 45 elected officials, cities, and counties in challenging the Trump Administration’s cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding. The coalition argues that these cuts will lead to layoffs, lab closures, and hinder scientific advancements.
Bhalla, a Democrat, emphasized the importance of standing up for research institutions, praising his alma mater, UC Berkeley, for taking legal action. He called the cuts “shortsighted” and warned of their negative impact on public health and innovation.
The coalition, which includes mayors from Boston, San Francisco, and Cleveland, filed an amicus brief in federal court in Massachusetts. They argue that the NIH’s decision to reduce reimbursements for indirect research costs—from up to 70% to just 15%—will devastate universities and medical institutions that rely on these funds to cover essential expenses like utilities, office space, and administrative support.
Hoboken is directly affected, as Stevens Institute of Technology receives millions in NIH grants. The coalition has secured a temporary restraining order to halt the funding cuts and is working to restore full financial support for federally funded research institutions.
Bhalla plans to introduce a resolution before the Hoboken City Council, seeking official authorization for the city to join the legal brief in the coming weeks.
