New jersey, phil murphy suing trump administration again

TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy promised to fight the Trump administration to the death, and now he’s making good on that offer. Except, he’s diverting millions of dollars of taxpayer funds into multiple lawsuits against the President’s efforts to reform government, reign in spending, and cut programs that aren’t helping the American people directly.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and a coalition of 21 other state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over funding cuts to medical and public health research.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, challenges the administration’s decision to slash “indirect cost” reimbursements, which help research institutions cover expenses such as laboratory operations, faculty support, and infrastructure. The attorneys general argue that the move threatens vital medical research across the country.

“The Trump Administration’s attack on public health research funding is a direct attack on our State, which has long led the nation in medical and health innovations that have saved countless lives across our country,” Platkin said in a statement.

On Friday, February 7, the NIH announced it would impose an across-the-board reduction of indirect cost rates to 15%, effective immediately. The coalition argues that this decision violates the Administrative Procedure Act and contradicts congressional directives meant to prevent similar cuts.

According to the lawsuit, the cuts could disrupt clinical trials, force layoffs, and shut down research programs at institutions that rely on federal funding. In New Jersey, affected institutions include Rutgers University, Princeton University, Rowan University, and several others.

The attorneys general are seeking a court order to block the cuts, warning that the reductions could jeopardize research on cancer, infectious diseases, and other critical health issues.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.