Trump Administration Cuts $2.7 Billion from NIH Research Funding, Senate Report Reveals

 

Trump Administration Cuts $2.7 Billion from NIH Research Funding, Senate Report Reveals

$2.7 Billion Slashed from NIH in Early 2025

The Trump administration reduced National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding by $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to a recently published minority report from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The report, which was spearheaded by Senator Bernie Sanders, shows that funding for cancer research has decreased by 31% since 2024, with thousands of scientific personnel being laid off and over 1,600 grants being terminated.

Public Health Experts Sound the Alarm

Researchers and health advocates are extremely worried about the changes. Katie Couric, a health advocate and journalist, called the cuts "unfathomable and unbelievable," highlighting the NIH's vital role in developing FDA-approved treatments. She warned that medical research and public health programs may suffer major setbacks and layoffs as a result of the planned $18 billion cut to the NIH and more than $3.5 billion to the CDC.

Broader Impact on Scientific Research and Public Health

The funding reductions are a part of the Trump administration's larger reorganization of federal health agencies, which also includes plans to combine different public health programs and eliminate 10,000 federal health jobs. Critics contend that these actions could jeopardize lives and erode the country's public health system, undermining decades of advancements in clinical research, immunization tracking, and illness prevention.

Legal Challenges and Political Response

In response to the cuts, lawsuits have been filed by state attorneys general and organizations representing leading biomedical research institutions, seeking to block the implementation of the funding reductions. A U.S. District Judge granted a temporary restraining order against the policy, citing potential risks to human life and the advancement of scientific research.

Conclusion

Health professionals, researchers, and legislators are deeply concerned about the Trump administration's large reductions in NIH research funding. The future of U.S. medical research and public health programs is at stake as legal disputes play out and public health advocates continue to raise their concerns.