▼ Summary
– The Trump administration temporarily froze $15 billion in NIH funding for biomedical research before releasing it, as part of broader efforts to challenge congressional spending authority.
– Russell Vought, OMB director and Project 2025 co-author, withheld the funds, claiming the NIH needs “fundamental reform” and has been “weaponized against the American people.”
– Fourteen Republican Senators urged Vought to release the NIH funds, which support critical research on diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.
– The Trump administration is attempting to undermine the 1974 Impoundment Act, which restricts presidential power to overturn congressional spending decisions, with GAO rulings already finding illegal fund withholdings.
– NIH leaders received a memo pausing grant funding, which supports vital research at US institutions and has contributed to a 30% decline in cancer deaths since 1990.
A $15 billion allocation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was temporarily frozen this week before being restored, marking the latest development in an ongoing budget dispute between the Trump administration and Congress. The funds, designated for biomedical research into diseases like cancer and cardiovascular conditions, faced an unexpected hold before being released following pressure from lawmakers.
Reports indicate the initial decision to withhold the money came from Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and a key figure in the Trump administration’s push to expand executive control over spending. Vought has publicly criticized the NIH, calling for structural reforms and accusing the agency of being “weaponized against the American people.” His stance drew sharp criticism, particularly after 14 Republican senators urged him in writing to release the congressionally approved funds.
The freeze aligns with broader efforts by the administration to challenge the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, a law designed to prevent presidents from unilaterally blocking funds approved by Congress. According to investigations, the Trump team has already been flagged by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for illegally withholding funds in other cases, though the full extent remains unclear.
The abrupt pause triggered alarm within the research community. A terse memo notified NIH leaders of the funding suspension, which would have stalled critical projects at universities and medical centers nationwide. NIH-backed research has been instrumental in major medical breakthroughs, including a 30% drop in cancer mortality rates since 1990. Experts warned that prolonged delays could cause irreversible setbacks in lifesaving studies.
While the funds were ultimately restored, the episode underscores the escalating tension over budgetary authority and its potential consequences for public health innovation. Researchers and policymakers continue to monitor the situation, wary of further disruptions to essential scientific progress.
(Source: Ars Technica)
