Scientists fear Trump administration cuts to NIH could impact the health of Americans for generations

Earlier this month, a Trump administration plan to cut the National Institutes of Health budget by more than 40% was leaked to the press. 

The preliminary budget sent shockwaves through the nation's health agency but also, the wider scientific community that relies on the NIH to fund research.

Since January, 1,300 NIH employees have been fired and more than $2 billion in research grants cancelled.

It's all part of the administration's effort to shrink the federal government, an effort led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Dr. Francis Collins, the long-time director of the agency who left the NIH said "When you're talking about medical research, when you're talking about people's lives, when you're talking about clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease or cancer that may take 3 or 4 years, you can't just go in and decide, 'I'm going to shut those down and maybe I'll try something else.' Those are people's lives at risk." 

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Source: CBS News, 27 April 2025