The White House is considering an executive order that would allow Russell Vought, head of the Office of Management and Budget, to have veto power over National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. This move is opposed by NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, who argues it places funding decisions under political control. The NIH, a major funder of global biomedical research, has faced previous attempts by Vought to limit its funding, particularly for research he deems “woke.” These efforts have been blocked by Congress and courts. Vought’s latest strategy involves leveraging political influence to control NIH grants, potentially impacting research on critical health issues. This development raises concerns about the politicization of scientific research funding.
QUESTION: How might political control over research funding impact scientific advancements and public health?
Russel Vought will reportedly be given veto power over all NIH grants
