White House blocks NIH from awarding any research grants

Angus Chen covers all issues broadly related to cancer including drugs, policy, science, and equity. He joined STAT in 2021 after covering health and science at NPR and NPR affiliate stations. His work has been recognized by national Edward R. Murrow awards, the June L. Biedler prize for cancer journalism, and more. You can reach Angus on Signal at angus.08.

Megan Molteni reports on discoveries from the frontiers of genomic medicine, neuroscience, and reproductive tech. She joined STAT in 2021 after covering health and science at WIRED. You can reach Megan on Signal at mmolteni.13.

The White House Office of Management and Budget has limited National Institutes of Health spending, according to a memo sent to the institute and center directors on Tuesday afternoon that directed them to immediately halt the issuing of research grants, research and development contracts, and training awards during a “pause” of unspecified duration. 

That constitutes the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go from the NIH out to universities, academic medical centers, and other research institutions. The four-sentence email, which STAT obtained, refers to a footnote included with OMB’s apportionment of NIH funding, its allocation of congressionally appropriated dollars for the final two months of the fiscal year. 

The Department of Health and Human Services, the email says, “has interpreted this footnote” to prohibit new awards and adds that NIH is “working to make this limitation short-term and temporary.”