Trump rescinds Biden policy that infused DEI into scientific process

The Trump administration has made a significant move to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements put in place by the Biden administration at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). One of the key changes was the rescinding of the agency’s “Scientific Integrity Policy,” which was implemented under President Joe Biden.

The Biden administration had unveiled a “Final Scientific Integrity Policy” towards the end of its term, emphasizing the importance of DEI in the scientific process. The policy mandated NIH’s chief scientist and top scientific integrity official to promote agency efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It also directed supervisors at the NIH to support scientists who identify as asexual or intersex, and encouraged NIH leadership to seek additional DEI expertise when needed.

In addition to rescinding the scientific integrity policy, the Trump administration has taken steps to remove DEI requirements from the scientific process. Health and Human Services Department spokesperson, Andrew Nixon, stated that the Biden administration had weaponized NIH’s scientific integrity policy to inject harmful DEI and gender ideology into research. Rescinding the policy, according to Nixon, will allow NIH to restore science to its golden standard and protect its integrity.

During the Biden administration, DEI considerations were integrated into the NIH’s research processes. Scientists seeking to work with the NIH were required to submit statements expressing their commitment to DEI when applying for grant funding. Additionally, projects related to DEI were funded, such as initiatives focused on “queering the curriculum” for family medicine doctors and educating nurses on transgender healthcare standards.

The Trump administration’s decision to rescind the Biden-era scientific integrity policy is part of a larger effort to eliminate DEI programs from both public and private sectors. Trump has also taken steps to reduce the NIH’s workforce by implementing a funding cap for facilities and administrative fees associated with research projects.

Overall, the Trump administration’s actions signal a shift away from the DEI-focused initiatives put in place by the Biden administration at the NIH. The move is likely to have implications for the future of scientific research and the prioritization of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field.