MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul joined 21 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration over funding cuts to medical and public health research.

The lawsuit, filed Monday, Feb. 10 in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts challenges the decision to reduce "indirect cost" reimbursements for research institutions nationwide.

The reimbursements reportedly support expenses such as laboratory maintenance, faculty costs and infrastructure. The coalition argues that the cuts violate federal regulations and a congressional directive that prohibits categorical changes to research funding.

The National Institutes of Health announced Friday, Feb. 7 that indirect cost rates would be capped at 15%, effective immediately. The lawsuit claims this decision could disrupt research programs, suspend clinical trials and lead to layoffs.

According to a statement from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the University of Wisconsin-Madison could lose approximately $65 million in federal research funding this year due to the cuts.

Gov. Evers said in a Monday press release, "The Trump Administration’s reckless federal funding cuts will be devastating for Wisconsin and a setback for millions of people who hope and pray every day for a cure or treatments that might save their life or the life of someone they love."