In another ruling affecting federal grant behavior, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston blocked the Trump administration from using a “termination clause” tied to agency priorities to cut billions in existing funding. The decision came after lawsuits filed by 23 states argued the provision effectively enabled a broad “slash-and-burn” approach. Talwani said the administration’s interpretation was not supported by the text, conflicted with regulatory scheme, and would violate the spending clause requirement that conditions be imposed unambiguously. The court also denied the government’s motion to dismiss. The higher education relevance is direct because federal research and safety-net funding are often structured through state-awarded or state-implemented grant programs. A restriction on the termination mechanism can reduce the probability of sudden, portfolio-wide funding disruptions for colleges and affiliated research partners.