NIH Employees Criticize Trump-Era Grant Scrutiny for Diversity-Related Terms
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is facing internal criticism over a Trump-era policy requiring the scrutiny of grant applications for specific words related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This policy, implemented through a text analysis tool, has led to delays in grant disbursements and forced researchers to alter their proposals. Employees are required to certify that grant documents do not contain flagged terms, which include 'diversity,' 'equity,' 'LGBT,' and 'climate change.' Critics within the NIH argue that this approach narrows research focus to predominantly white, straight, cisgender men, effectively discriminating against other demographics. The policy has been described as a form of censorship that undermines scientific inquiry and ethical standards. 
