The Trump administration is removing dozens of vetted scientists from National Institutes of Health (NIH) advisory councils, hollowing out key decision-making panels to install politically aligned replacements.
Max Kozlov reports for Nature.
In short:
- The NIH is disinviting scientists nominated under the Biden administration from serving on its advisory councils, despite those scientists completing a rigorous two-year vetting process.
- This rare move will leave panels that oversee billions in research grants severely understaffed, with some institutes operating with just a fraction of their required members.
- Internal emails show NIH staff were told to prioritize political loyalty and screen social media posts and DEI affiliations, raising fears of partisan influence in scientific funding.
Why this matters:
Scientists who spent two years navigating a rigorous ethics and vetting process — some of the best minds tapped to steer billions in taxpayer-funded research — have been abruptly told they’re no longer welcome. Starving NIH advisory panels of expertise doesn’t just delay grants, it can hamper innovation. The Trump administration is sending a clear message: political loyalty over scientific merit.
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