NIH Funding Frozen Despite Judicial Orders

The indefinite freeze on National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding continues to leave scientists in uncertainty, despite a federal injunction intended to halt such actions. According to reports from Nature and The Chronicle, the Trump administration is utilizing an administrative loophole to maintain this freeze, ignoring a judge's order to resume funding.

This freeze follows a recent White House initiative aiming to cut billions from NIH grants allocated to "indirect costs." These costs encompass essential research expenses like facilities, equipment, and administrative duties, vital for the research community's smooth operation.

The conundrum arises from the suspension of grant proposal reviews, a key step in determining NIH funding allocations. Internal communications suggest that no NIH meetings are scheduled currently, stalling research payments. With a budget of almost $48 billion, NIH stands as the largest global public funder for biomedical research.

Critics, including Aaron Hoskins, Ph.D., label the freeze as "nefarious," as researchers like him revisit decisions like hiring graduate students due to the funding uncertainty. The legal community is scrutinizing this move, as the Constitution delegates budget control to Congress, not the President, as highlighted by administrative law expert David Super.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has yet to address inquiries regarding the issue. Meanwhile, recent lawsuits have led Judge Angel Kelley from the U.S. District Court in Boston to issue a temporary nationwide pause following actions in 22 states, with hearings scheduled to deliberate further developments.