Here Are the Nearly 2,500 Medical Research Grants Canceled or Delayed by Trump
New York TimesJUN 4
NIH Director Defends Budget Cuts Amid Research Grant Suspensions
Above: Director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health Jayanta Bhattacharya during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies hearing in Washington, D.C., on June 10, 2025. Image copyright: Al Drago/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
NIH budget cuts target wasteful "indirect" fees, where, for example, 40% of a $3 million grant goes toward administrative costs, not research. These opaque costs fuel bureaucratic bloat. Capping or eliminating indirect rates ensures taxpayer funds prioritize science, not overhead. Private grants also show research thrives without excessive fees, forcing transparency and accountability in university spending.
Establishment-critical narrative
Cutting funding for more than 1,300 research grants clearly threatens U.S. medical leadership, as vital studies on Alzheimer's, cancer, and brain tumors now face termination. The subsequent delays will disrupt 1,000+ projects, forcing layoffs and stalling life-saving experiments. These cuts, which also bypass Congressional approval, risk long-term damage, driving scientists away and undermining health progress for all.
Metaculus Prediction
Limited Coverage
This story currently has limited reporting from right-wing sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.