Science and Medical Grants: A Step Forward, But Not Far Enough
The government has decided to re-examine thousands of research grants that were previously put on hold due to their focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. While this is positive news, it's not yet time to celebrate.
Grants in Question
The affected grants come from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation. These grants could have supported crucial research on HIV prevention and Alzheimer’s disease.
- University of Washington is one of the many institutions impacted.
- Received $572 million from the NIH in 2024.
- Their attorney general joined others in a lawsuit against the government.
Recent Developments
After reaching an agreement, the NIH reviewed hundreds of applications and approved 499.
Historical Context
The president has a history of attempting to cut research funding:
- First term: Tried to cut $6.1 billion from the NIH, including $1 billion for cancer research. Congress stopped this.
- 2025: Attempted to control colleges and universities by pausing federal grant applications and cutting cancer research funding. This led to multiple lawsuits.
- Pressured schools like Cornell, Columbia, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania.
- Withheld millions in funding, citing the need to protect civil rights and align schools with his views on gender and race in hiring and athletics.
Current Status
The government still has many applications to review. The latest agreement does not guarantee funding but requires the NIH to consider the stalled applications. It took nearly a year and lawsuits to reach this point.
In a country renowned for its medical and technological advancements, this progress is insufficient.
