Trump officials debate executive order to review and veto NIH research grants

The short version

• White House budget chief Russell Vought and other officials proposed an executive order creating an external committee to review and potentially veto NIH research grants.[The Guardian · The Washington Post]
• The proposed board would include Vought and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, requiring unanimous agreement on grant approvals.[The Guardian]
• The effort marks a shift away from traditional scientific merit reviews, coinciding with billions in frozen federal grants and an ongoing First Amendment lawsuit from researchers.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• Senior administration officials clashed in the Oval Office on Friday over whether the NIH continues to fund projects opposed to President Trump's agenda.[The Guardian · The Washington Post]
• OMB Director Russell Vought proposed creating an external review board with the authority to veto research awards.[The Guardian · The Washington Post]
• Under the reported proposal, the committee would require unanimous decisions between Vought and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya.[The Guardian]
• Researchers have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging First Amendment violations over federal grant freezes and cancellations under the Trump administration.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Vought pushes for scrutiny of NIH grants in Oval Office clashThe Washington Post - Politics metered
• Trump reportedly to form health funding board that could veto ‘woke’ initiativesThe Guardian - World