Former NIH Officials File Retaliation Whistleblower Complaints

Two former top officials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Drs. Jeanne Marrazzo and Kathleen Neuzil, have filed whistleblower complaints alleging they were placed on administrative leave and removed from leadership positions in retaliation for opposing the agency's politicization of scientific research and hostility toward vaccines. They objected to the Trump administration's cancellation of research grants and clinical trials, including those related to vaccines and research in South Africa, claiming these actions were politically motivated rather than science-based. Both officials also reported dismissive and hostile behavior from Matthew Memoli, acting NIH director and now principal deputy director, who downplayed the importance of vaccines and aligned with the administration's focus on chronic diseases over infectious diseases. The complaints, filed with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, seek reinstatement and damages, emphasizing a hostile environment toward evidence-based science following the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS secretary. NIH and HHS have defended their vaccine policies and funding decisions, denying claims of anti-science motives. These allegations highlight ongoing tensions between scientific leaders and political appointees within federal health agencies under the current administration.