US President Donald Trump’s administration is considering a new system that could give the White House greater control over federal biomedical research grants.
The proposal could create an external commission with the authority to review or veto grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to US media reports.
The NIH is the largest US federal funder of biomedical research. Its grants support studies into diseases, treatments, public health and medical innovation.
Proposed Commission Could Review NIH Grants
The proposal was discussed during a White House meeting involving senior administration officials.
According to people familiar with the discussions, White House budget director Russell Vought argued that the NIH was funding research that conflicted with the Trump administration’s priorities.
Officials discussed establishing a commission that could conduct additional reviews of NIH grants. The exact structure and authority of such a commission have not yet been finalized.
The White House has not publicly provided full details of the proposed arrangement.
Trump Administration Seeks Changes at NIH
The discussions come amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to change federal research priorities.
The NIH has already changed its grant-making process under the current administration. The agency has reduced funding for some research areas and reviewed grants based on administration priorities.
Vought has repeatedly argued that the NIH requires major changes.
In recent discussions, he raised concerns about grants involving issues that the administration considers inconsistent with its policies.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya defended the agency’s grant-making process during the White House discussions, according to reports.
Researchers Raise Concerns
The proposed changes have triggered concern among research organizations.
Russ Paulsen, president of Research!America, warned that adding another layer of review could slow medical research.
Researchers have also expressed concerns about delays in funding and uncertainty for long-term scientific projects.
The American Association for Cancer Research recently warned that continued funding pressure could affect future cancer research and medical breakthroughs.
NIH Says Existing Grant Money Will Be Spent
An NIH spokesperson said there would be no rescissions of existing NIH grant funding.
The agency said existing grant money would be spent, according to The Washington Post.
However, questions remain about how future grants could be affected if the proposed commission receives authority to review or veto awards.
Wider Fight Over Federal Research
The debate is part of a broader dispute over the federal government’s role in scientific research.
The Trump administration has sought greater oversight of federal grants and has argued that some government-funded research does not match its priorities.
Scientists and research institutions have warned that political involvement in grant decisions could create uncertainty for universities and medical researchers.
In August, Senate Republicans joined Democrats in supporting legislation that would temporarily block the administration from gaining broader authority over federal science funding.
The proposed NIH commission would therefore represent another potential change in how billions of dollars in US biomedical research funding are reviewed and distributed.
