OMB Director Russell Vought to gain veto power over all NIH grants via executive order

Proposed Executive Order

Reports indicate that an executive order is in development that would give Russell Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the authority to veto individual grants issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This development follows a contentious White House meeting where NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya reportedly opposed efforts to politicize funding decisions.

NIH's Role and Budget

The NIH is the world's largest funder of biomedical research, with an annual budget of $47 billion. This funding primarily supports academic researchers at universities, covering a range of activities from basic biological research to clinical trials, and has been instrumental in the growth of the biotechnology industry.

Previous Attempts to Influence Funding

This is not the first attempt by Vought to influence NIH funding. Earlier efforts included terminating grants related to pandemic preparedness and health disparities, and proposing a budget cut of nearly half for the NIH. These previous attempts were either rejected by Congress or overturned by courts. Vought also proposed new grant funding rules that would prioritize political considerations, which Congress also put on hold.

Implications for Research Funding

The proposed executive order represents a significant shift in how NIH grants are approved. It suggests a move towards greater political oversight in the allocation of research funds, potentially impacting the types of research that receive funding and the independence of scientific research decisions.