Houston, TX — In a bold defense of public health and medical innovation, Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee has joined a coalition of 45 cities, counties, and local government leaders nationwide in filing a powerful amicus brief opposing abrupt funding cuts by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These cuts, if upheld, could devastate critical medical research programs, jeopardize thousands of jobs, and weaken the nation’s healthcare infrastructure—especially in regions like Harris County, home to the globally recognized Texas Medical Center (TMC).

“This is about more than budgets and bureaucratic decisions—it’s about real lives and real consequences,” said Menefee. “When the NIH pulls funding from world-class institutions like the Texas Medical Center, they’re not just cutting research—they’re cutting into the health, jobs, and futures of our residents and communities across the nation.”

The Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, employs over 120,000 individuals and leads groundbreaking research in cancer treatment, infectious diseases, and surgical advancements. NIH funding is the lifeblood of many of these projects, driving innovation that saves lives locally and globally. The proposed NIH funding terminations would not only force active research to grind to a halt but would also trigger widespread job losses and stall progress on cures for life-threatening diseases.

NIH’s economic impact is staggering—its investments support more than 400,000 jobs across the U.S. and contribute over $92 billion to the national economy annually. For regions like Houston, which thrives on health innovation and medical research, continued federal support is essential to safeguarding both economic resilience and community well-being.

The legal case surrounding the funding cuts is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals, following a prior ruling in Massachusetts that ordered the reinstatement of these funds. The outcome could set a precedent for how public health resources are allocated and protected moving forward.

“Our office is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders across the country in defending public health,” Menefee affirmed. “Healthcare funding should never be used as a political weapon. We are sending a clear message: Harris County will not allow our communities, our workers, or our future to be treated as expendable.”

As Houston continues to lead the nation in medical breakthroughs, Attorney Menefee’s advocacy reinforces a broader commitment to health equity, research excellence, and the protection of frontline institutions that form the backbone of America’s healthcare system.