The White House is drafting an executive order to move NIH grant approval to a new board. Trump told budget director Russ Vought to build it. On Sept. 20 he asked for a plan that would give an outside panel veto power over NIH research grants.
Catch up
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (Sen-R Maine) objects. Putting politics into grantmaking by order or guidance is "contrary to congressional intent," she says. Ranking member Patty Murray (Sen-D Washington) warns that one appointee could kill a cancer study. There would be no scientific reason for it.
Also in the draft
- Officials are also weighing a separate commission to review NIH awards.
- An analysis cited by PBS says the administration has cut or frozen grants in every state.