The Trump administration terminated $1.81 billion in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants within 40 days, including $544 million in unspent funds, according to a recent JAMA analysis based on data from the Department of Health and Human Services. This analysis provides a detailed overview of the significant cuts to NIH funding, initiated as part of a broader strategy to eliminate perceived waste in federal expenditures. The administration’s actions resulted in the termination of nearly 700 grants across 24 NIH institutes, affecting various research areas such as aging, cancer, and mental health.
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities faced especially severe cuts, with about 30% of its funding eliminated—ten times the average reduction across other institutes. President Trump’s budget proposal aims to completely defund this institute, labeling it as excessive in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) spending, with an overall NIH budget reduction to $27 billion, roughly an $18 billion decrease.
Most terminated grants supported research projects, though about 20% were for career development opportunities. Larger grants, typically funding extensive clinical trials, were more frequently cut, raising concerns about their disruptive impact on research initiatives.
Columbia University saw the highest number of terminations at 157 grants, a decision linked to the university’s response to campus events relating to pro-Palestinian protests. As a result, Columbia laid off 180 staff members dependent on federal grant funding, indicating significant disruption to its research efforts. University officials expressed commitment to engaging with the federal government to mitigate the effects of these funding cuts.
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