HHS cuts more than 500 grants for gender ideology, DEI research projects
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made headlines by canceling over 500 National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants totaling more than $350 million. These grants were funding projects related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as gender ideology. According to HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon, these projects were deemed wasteful and not aligned with the priorities of the NIH and HHS.
One of the projects that was cut included a nearly $1 million grant to scientists at the University of Maryland-Baltimore for a research project focused on assessing structural racism for English- and Spanish-speaking populations in the US. This project aimed to create a measure to eliminate health disparities and discrimination for racial minorities. Additionally, grants studying transgender medical treatments in mice were also terminated. Emory University researchers were studying how transgender hormone treatments impact skeletal maturation in mice, while another project was examining the impact of chromosomal makeup and hormone administration on wound healing in mice.
Furthermore, grants that focused on recruiting scientists based on their race or ethnicity were also slashed. A grant worth over $5 million to researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center aimed to achieve more racial and ethnic diversity among scientific research faculty. This grant included a commitment to hire at least 18 tenure-track faculty from minoritized racial and ethnic groups.
The Trump administration’s actions targeting NIH research have faced backlash, with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the nominee for the next NIH director, facing questions during his confirmation hearing about the cuts. Bhattacharya emphasized the importance of following the law and investigating the impact of the cuts. He also outlined a new decentralized vision for future research at the NIH, focusing on embracing dissenting ideas and transparency, while prioritizing research that directly benefits the health outcomes of Americans.
As the administration continues to reshape the priorities of NIH research funding, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the scientific community and the health outcomes of Americans. It is clear that the focus is shifting towards research that aligns with the administration’s policies and has a direct impact on public health.
