President Trump Considers Executive Order to Politicize NIH Grant Process, Impacting Research Funding
President Trump is reportedly considering an executive order that would establish a new committee with the authority to veto National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants based on political views. This move would shift the current system, where grants are awarded based on scientific merit reviewed by experts, to one that incorporates ideological objections. The administration has previously attempted to restrict NIH grants, particularly for Ivy League schools and other universities it deems 'woke,' leading to disruptions in thousands of awards, disproportionately affecting institutions in 'blue states.' A meeting was held where administration officials discussed increasing control over NIH grants, with some criticizing the NIH for not aligning with the administration's agenda. This potential executive order follows earlier efforts by the Trump administration to curtail NIH funding, which have often faced legal challenges.
