The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has temporarily halted the evaluation of new grant applications, resulting in delays in decisions concerning the allocation of substantial funds for research into various diseases, including heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and allergies. This suspension has arisen due to the Trump administration’s restriction on the NIH issuing new announcements in the Federal Register, a necessary step before many federal meetings can occur.
This procedural interruption, though technical in nature, has compelled the NIH to cancel meetings intended to assess numerous grant applications. This information comes from two individuals acquainted with the circumstances, one of whom could not comment publicly, and the other wished to remain anonymous due to concerns about repercussions. As a result of the meeting cancellations, approximately 16,000 grant applications, seeking around $1.5 billion in NIH funding, have been delayed, according to one person familiar with the grant processes.
NIH officials are hopeful for a lifting of the suspension on Federal Register notices to prevent a major interruption in funding. Holding almost $48 billion in annual funding, the NIH is recognized as the largest global public sponsor of biomedical research.
Every grant application submitted to the NIH undergoes a rigorous review process. Annually, the NIH conducts about 2,600 meetings, engaging approximately 28,000 experts such as scientists, doctors, and administrators. These individuals play a essential role in ensuring ongoing NIH funding to over 300,000 researchers across more than 2,500 institutions, including universities and medical schools.
Due to the current freeze, a person informed about the NIH’s grant-making operations indicates that incoming applications will be stuck, unable to proceed. Members of key committees, like “study sections,” which have been canceled, have expressed dissatisfaction. Annika Barber, an assistant professor at Rutgers University, highlighted during a briefing that the disruption hinders critical feedback on biomedical research necessary for federal funding.
Some external observers have provided varied perspectives on the matter. Judge Glock of the Manhattan Institute described the pause as a usual procedure for a new administration to review grants. Although the Trump administration initially froze all federal grants, including those from the NIH, this freeze was later temporarily restrained by a federal court ruling. There is speculation from some researchers that the NIH’s Federal Register freeze might seek to bypass this ruling, although not everyone concurs.
Furthermore, NIH funding supporters acknowledge potential improvements to the agency’s processes. Still, some believe the Trump administration’s current actions could undermine the established system for funding scientific research, according to a source familiar with the NIH funding.
The NIH and the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the NIH, did not immediately address NPR’s inquiries for comment. The freeze’s applicability across other agencies remains uncertain, but there is growing concern among NIH-funded scientists about potential funding and program reductions.
Recently, the NIH has faced workforce reductions, with approximately 1,200 layoffs, alongside Trump administration efforts to cap payments for research-related indirect costs at 15%—a significant reduction that researchers argue might severely impact medical research. This cap’s legality is under review by a federal judge in Boston.
Many within the scientific community fear these initiatives could lead to a broader restructuring of the NIH. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., leading the Department of Health and Human Services, has advocated for substantial reforms at the NIH. Additionally, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, nominated by President Trump to direct the NIH, has voiced criticisms of the agency, aligning with some congressional Republicans and conservative groups proposing substantial changes, such as reallocating NIH funds directly to states through block grants.
