Washington, D.C. – The politically-motivated firing of Dr. H. Clifford Lane, one of the world’s most renowned physician-scientists, was unlawful and puts public health in jeopardy, according to a lawsuit filed today by Democracy Forward and James & Hoffman, P.C. on behalf of Dr. Lane.
For the past 46 years, Dr. Lane has built a career as an internationally recognized physician-scientist who devoted his work to public service at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Lane’s celebrated and productive career in public health was cut short last year, however, when U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. singled him out for a politically motivated and unlawful termination.
“The work NIH does to study, prevent, and treat infectious and immunologic diseases is crucial to the health and safety of people all over the world. I am committed to the mission of NIH and hope to be able to return,” said Dr. Lane. “I appreciate the partnership of my counsel in this case, and I am hopeful that the court will help me get back to work as soon as possible.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Lane has led pioneering research and clinical trials to develop treatments for some of the world’s most significant infectious diseases. His work helped transform HIV/AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable chronic condition. He helped pave the way for the approval of life-saving Ebola vaccines and treatment, and he helped establish medical guidelines for treating COVID-19.
Dr. Lane became a target of the Trump-Vance administration, and of Secretary Kennedy in particular, due to his past work with Dr. Anthony Fauci – a frequent target of far-right conspiracy theories and false allegations.
“Dr. Lane’s work has saved the lives of more people than we will ever know. He deserves our nation’s gratitude, not to be the latest target of science denying political leadership despite the protections that career civil servants should be afforded. We will fight his unlawful dismissal, so he can get back to the important work on which he has based his career in public service,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward.
“The firing of Dr. Lane brings together three of the most destructive patterns that have defined the Trump administration: its targeting of perceived opponents, its disregard of laws protecting civil servants, and its politicization of science and medicine. We are proud to stand with Dr. Lane in challenging this illegal and dangerous action,” said Danny Rosenthal, partner at James & Hoffman
In March 2025, two months after the start of the Trump-Vance administration, Dr. Lane was placed on administrative leave from NIH. The administration first told Dr. Lane that he was going to be reassigned, but he was never notified of a new assignment. Instead, Dr. Lane remained on administrative leave for nine months, unable to continue his life-saving work. Then, in late December 2025, Dr. Lane was abruptly fired. He was not given any reason for his termination, nor was he offered the opportunity to respond. Instead, he was informed of his termination in a three-sentence letter from Secretary Kennedy that gave no reason for the termination.
Dr. Lane filed an appeal to challenge his unlawful termination with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), but the MSPB has taken no action on his appeal in the four months since it was filed. The lawsuit filed today argues that Dr. Lane’s unlawful termination violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Civil Service Reform Act, and the First and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
The Democracy Forward legal team includes Joshua M. Salzman, Webb Lyons, and Elena Goldstein. The James & Hoffman legal team includes Danny Rosenthal, Olga Thall, and Charlotte Schwartz.
Read the complaint filed today here.
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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
James & Hoffman is a law firm that represents workers and labor unions across the country. For more information, please visit www.jamhoff.com.
