US Approves Reinstatement of Select Medical Research Grants Amid Policy Revisions

A senior official from the U.S. health sector announced that the Trump administration had overextended its initial cuts to biomedical research funding, which amounted to billions of dollars. Steps are now being taken to restore some of these vital research grants to support scientific progress.

During a Senate committee hearing focused on recent budget adjustments and proposed reductions for the upcoming year, Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acknowledged the excesses of previous funding cuts. He highlighted that the NIH had established an appeals process allowing scientists and research labs affected by these cuts to seek reconsideration. Consequently, many of the initially slashed grants have already been reinstated.

Bhattacharya emphasized his commitment to the original mission of his role, stating, "I didn't take this job to terminate grants. I took this job to ensure the research that advances the health of Americans continues." He also expressed concern over policies that threaten ongoing scientific work.

The hearing followed an open letter from over 60 NIH staff members, collectively termed the "Bethesda Declaration," criticizing the administration’s policies. This letter condemned the impact on research and the broader mission of the agency. The letter also referenced Bhattacharya's previous prominence in the 2020 "Great Barrington Declaration," which opposed COVID-19 lockdown measures.

Since President Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, the NIH has canceled approximately 2,100 research grants worth about $9.5 billion, along with $2.6 billion in contracts, according to Grant Watch, an independent database. These include studies on gender health disparities, environmental impacts such as global warming, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer.

The administration has undertaken a significant overhaul of US science policy, marked by drastic funding cuts, critique of academic institutions, and layoffs impacting scientists across federal agencies, reflecting a broader effort to reshape federal science funding and priorities.