Trump seeks control over health research funding decisions
by@Reuters
Summary
U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to exert greater control over health research funding by directing budget director Russ Vought to draft an executive order that would establish a board responsible for deciding which grants receive funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This board would include NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and Vought, requiring unanimous decisions on grant awards. The initiative comes amid criticism regarding recent cuts to federal research funding at major universities, which the Trump administration argues are necessary to ensure that government resources are allocated to solid scientific endeavors and to rectify past budgetary missteps.
Analysis
Russ Vought: Russ Vought serves as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. He has been tasked with drafting an executive order that would place him on a new board with authority over NIH grant funding alongside the NIH director. Donald Trump: Donald Trump is the President of the United States. He has directed his budget director to draft an executive order creating a board to oversee grant decisions at the National Institutes of Health. Jay Bhattacharya: Jay Bhattacharya is the Director of the National Institutes of Health. The proposed board would require his participation in unanimous decisions on which health research grants receive federal funding. Policy Initiative: President Trump is pursuing greater political oversight of NIH grant awards through an executive order creating a unanimous board including his budget director. Recent Developments: The reported effort follows earlier steps by the administration to reduce federal research spending at major universities. Administration Position: The Trump administration maintains that recent research funding adjustments are needed to support only solid science and correct prior misguided priorities.
Categories
macropolitics