NIH Funding Faces delays and Potential Loss as New Policies Trigger Concerns
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is grappling with meaningful delays in awarding and distributing research grants, raising fears that allocated funds may go unspent by the end of the fiscal year. These issues stem from recent policy changes implemented by the current administration, prompting scrutiny over congressional authority regarding federal spending.
Following a suspension of grant review meetings linked to former President Trump, the NIH has encountered further obstacles. In May, the agency implemented a ban on American researchers subcontracting with international institutions, citing national security concerns. This decision impacts approximately 1,800 ongoing health research projects, forcing researchers to either sever ties with their international collaborators or risk losing funding.
Adding to the delays, the U.S. DOGE Service, a government-shrinking task force, has begun reviewing all NIH awards before funds are released. Internal correspondence obtained by Nature reveals this additional layer of political review is significantly slowing down the grant process, both for new awards and renewals, according to two anonymous NIH grants officials who spoke with STAT.
Experts describe the situation as unprecedented and indicative of a intentional obstruction of agency funding. “I don’t think anybody quite envisioned this just incredibly bad faith behavior by the government,” stated Jeremy Berg, former director of an NIH institute.
The delays raise questions about the power of Congress to control federal spending, specifically regarding laws like the Impoundment Control Act and transparency requirements. Donald Moynihan, a professor at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, noted that congressional Republicans have largely avoided addressing these concerns, possibly weakening the institution.with the fiscal year ending September 30th, there is a risk that unspent funds will be returned to the treasury. Sudip parikh, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, highlighted the urgency, stating, “We’re in August, these funds have to be spent by September 30.” He testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee in April regarding the potential for impoundment.
Despite these challenges, Parikh expressed confidence in NIH Director’s commitment to obligate all allocated funding for fiscal year 2025. However, he also voiced concerns about the agency’s capacity to do so, citing recent layoffs and resulting low morale among remaining staff.
“The federal government is built to get money out the door in the last quarter,” Parikh explained, “A lot of the contract staff, a lot of the grant staff, is either missing or is demoralized at NIH. That said, I know that the ones that are there would move heaven and earth to to get money into the hands of earned awards.”
