Under this system, a select number of NIH scientists have university-like tenure protections.
UntilDonald Trumpretook the White House, renewals have been routine.
Sources within the NIH argue this is being done less out of spite than incompetence.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at Donald Trump’s address to Congress on March 4, 2025.Win McNamee/Getty Images
The NIH represents a crown jewel of federal research institutions.
Its an honor to work here.
Thats all being eroded, he says.
Those remaining are already eyeing the exits.
Its a snowball effect.
It signals the end of research [inside] NIH, the scientist says.
Who is going to want to join a career like that?
The job cuts will not only degrade the federal research pipeline but will also precipitate a brain drain.
Theyre terminated from that point.
Theres no way back.
Rolling Stonereached out to HHS for comment and did not hear back.
The defunding has been blocked in court for now, with a federal judge imposing apreliminary injunctionthis week.
The administrations choice to lead NIH is also scientifically suspect.
Bhattacharya is currently up for confirmation, and the Republican-led Senate is expected to rubber stamp his nomination.
