Vought Urges Review of NIH Grants in Oval Office Clash Over Spending Cuts
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 19
Vought Urges Review of NIH Grants in Oval Office Clash Over Spending Cuts
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 19
Summary
Russell Vought pressed in a Friday Oval Office meeting for tighter scrutiny of National Institutes of Health grants and floated a presidential commission to review awards, according to three people familiar with the discussion.
The push centered on claims that NIH was still funding priorities the White House sees as “woke” and out of step with President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Senior administration officials also argued over whether NIH should cut spending further, widening the dispute from grant-by-grant oversight to the agency’s broader budget.
The clash signals intensifying White House pressure on NIH funding decisions as Trump officials weigh stronger political control over federal research priorities.