Trump Administration Imposes NIH Restrictions

President Trump's administration has imposed significant restrictions on the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including a pause on external communications, hiring, travel, and the suspension of grant review panels crucial for medical research funding. This pause has severely affected ongoing research projects, notably in HIV and cancer studies, and threatens the continuation of clinical trials and publication of scientific findings. Researchers fear these disruptions could cause long-term setbacks in biomedical advancements and negatively impact university budgets and health outcomes. Additionally, an executive order is being prepared to temporarily halt federal funding for 'gain-of-function' virus research, which could further hinder scientific progress. Critics argue that the extensive freeze represents a political maneuver undermining the independence and efficacy of U.S. scientific research.