President Trump's sweeping freezes on meetings, travel, and hiring at the National Institutes of Health have sparked fear and confusion among researchers.
Meredith Wadman and Jocelyn Kaiser report for Science.
In short:
- The Trump administration abruptly canceled NIH grant review panels, training workshops and advisory council meetings, disrupting research processes and creating uncertainty.
- A government-wide hiring freeze and an HHS-specific travel and communications ban prevent NIH staff from attending conferences, recruiting patients for trials or publishing key updates.
- These restrictions, described as more extreme than in past transitions between presidential administrations, could delay grants and hinder the career development of young scientists.
Key quote:
“This kind of disruption could have long ripple effects. Even short delays will put the United States behind in research.”
— Jane Liebschutz, opioid addiction researcher at the University of Pittsburgh
Why this matters:
When research grinds to a halt, so does progress on treatments for cancer, rare diseases and pandemics. These freezes, described as harsher than previous transitions, highlight a deep disconnect between the political machine and the intricate ecosystem of science that keeps us healthy and informed.
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