Chief Justice John Roberts joins liberals in attempt to stop Trump's administration

In a 5-4 ruling, the high court on Thursday allowed the Trump Administration to halt nearly $800 million in research grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health that touch on race and gender issues. The ruling was ambiguous, however, as justices declined to bloc ka lower court ruling that tossed guidance from the administration that was used as rationale to cut the funding.

The Supreme Court told grantees that they could still seek funding, though they would need to do so in a different court.

A decision on the grants ultimately broke down 5-4, with Roberts joining the court’s three liberals. All four of these justices said they would have denied the Trump Administration entirely. Four conservatives — Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas — said they would have sided with Trump entirely.