The US Supreme Court has derailed researchers’ efforts to reinstate almost $2 billion in research grants issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The court’s decision on Thursday represents a remarkable reversal, allowing the administration of US President Donald Trump to proceed with science cuts it began in late February.

The Supreme Court cleared President Donald Trump to cut $783 million in NIH diversity-linked research grants in a 5–4 ruling that overturned lower court blocks.