STAT+: Members of Congress push back on plan to create a commission of political appointees to review NIH grants

Recent disclosures have heightened tensions over the White House's growing influence over federal biomedical research funding. Members of Congress have strongly objected to news that a panel of political appointees may be created to review all National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. At a recent White House meeting, Russell Vought, head of the Office of Management and Budget, advocated for an executive order establishing such a commission, according to The Washington Post.

President Trump, reportedly irritated by NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya's refusal to reduce funding for Harvard researchers, instructed Vought to draft the executive order. Both Vought and Bhattacharya were reportedly to be part of the proposed board, which would need to achieve unanimous agreement on grant approvals. More details can be found at STAT+.