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Trump seeks executive order to control NIH research grants
President Donald Trump has directed White House Budget Director Russ Vought to draft an executive order that would grant the administration direct control over National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants.
The proposed plan involves creating a new oversight board composed of Vought and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya. Under this arrangement, grant awards would require unanimous decisions from the board, a structure that would effectively grant Vought veto power over the distribution of billions of dollars in congressionally-appropriated biomedical research funding.
Reports indicate the directive aims to ensure that research projects align with the administration's political agenda and to move away from the traditional scientific peer-review process. The administration argues these measures are necessary to prioritize scientifically sound research and manage federal spending. However, the move follows recent controversies regarding funding cuts at major universities and could face legal challenges. An NIH spokesperson stated the agency remains committed to its mission of funding biomedical research for the benefit of public health.
Entities
Donald Trump · Jay Bhattacharya · National Institutes of Health · Office of Management and Budget · Russ Vought · White House Office of Management and Budget
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] President Donald Trump has directed Budget Director Russ Vought to draft an executive order to increase administration control over National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. almanartv.com.lb · srnnews.com · san.com · dailytimes.com.pk
- [● 2 SOURCES] The administration maintains that increased oversight is necessary to ensure federal funds support scientifically sound research and align with government priorities. srnnews.com · dailytimes.com.pk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A spokesperson for the NIH stated the agency remains committed to its mission of funding biomedical research for the health of Americans. san.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Grant award decisions by the proposed board would require unanimous agreement, effectively giving Vought veto power. almanartv.com.lb · srnnews.com · san.com · dailytimes.com.pk
- [● 2 SOURCES] The directive aims to create an external committee with the power to veto biomedical research awards that do not align with the administration's political agenda. almanartv.com.lb · san.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The proposed board would consist of NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and OMB Director Russ Vought. almanartv.com.lb · srnnews.com · san.com · dailytimes.com.pk