NIH Workers Protest Trump Policies Citing 1000 Job Losses and Billions in Cut Funds

Hundreds of workers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) publicly protested the Trump administration’s policies, which they claim are causing a dramatic reduction in life-saving research. In a letter addressed to NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, the workers expressed their dissent against policies that they believe undermine the NIH mission, waste public resources, and harm the health of Americans and people globally. The letter, titled the "Bethesda Declaration," was a direct response to the administration's actions, including the termination of hundreds of grants funding scientific and biomedical research, the firing of over 1,000 employees, and the move to end billions in funds to partner institutions overseas. These actions, according to the workers, will negatively impact research on rare cancers, infectious diseases, and efforts to minimize tobacco use and related chronic illnesses.

The workers highlighted the harm these policies are causing to research participants and public health. Jenna Norton, who works at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, one of NIH’s 27 institutes, emphasized the importance of honoring the commitments made to research participants. She noted that the policies are preventing the NIH from delivering on its promises and putting participants at risk. The workers called on Bhattacharya to restore grants that were delayed or terminated for political reasons and to reinstate workers who were dismissed under recent mass firings. They also demanded that research done in partnership with institutions in foreign countries continue without disruption.

The letter was a bold move by the NIH workers, with some signing their names publicly and others anonymously. This protest comes at a time when the NIH’s nearly $48 billion budget makes it the world’s largest public funder of scientific research. The agency’s work has led to countless scientific discoveries that have improved health and saved lives around the globe. However, the current administration’s policies have led to controversies, including instances of research misconduct and ineffective monitoring of grant awards and related research.

The workers’ demands include the restoration of grants that were terminated for political reasons, the reinstatement of dismissed workers, and the continuation of research partnerships with foreign institutions. They also called for an end to the indiscriminate grant terminations, payment freezes for ongoing research, and blanket holds on awards, regardless of the quality, progress, or impact of the science. The workers argued that these actions risk participant health and damage public trust in the NIH.

In response to the letter, Bhattacharya acknowledged the importance of respectful dissent in science but maintained that the NIH’s policy directions are aimed at supporting international collaboration. He stated that the Bethesda Declaration contains fundamental misconceptions about the NIH’s recent policy directions. However, the workers’ concerns about the administration’s actions and their impact on public health and research remain unaddressed.

The protest by NIH workers is part of a growing movement by scientists and others against the Trump administration’s actions. In addition to in-person protests, some former employees are organizing patients to get involved in advocating for federal funding and science policymaking. Peter Garrett, who led the National Cancer Institute’s communications work, has created an advocacy nonprofit called Patient Action for Cancer Research. The aim is to engage patients in the conversation about federal funding and science policymaking, putting the issue squarely before members of Congress.

The workers’ protest highlights the extent of the upheaval and harm done to the NIH under the current administration. Norton, who has worked at the NIH for about a decade, stated that she has never seen anything like this in her career. The workers’ concerns about the administration’s actions and their impact on public health and research remain unaddressed, and the protest is a call for the NIH to prioritize academic freedom and respect dissenting views.