Trump administration cancels NIH scientific integrity policy
The National Institute of Health said that it pulled the policy due to the language on diversity and inclusion according to the instructions from the Trump administration.
Climatewire | The National Institute of Health has canceled a scientific integrity policy to protect research and communication from political intervention, cited the policy commitment for diversity and inclusion.
The policy was canceled on Friday evening to “ensure alignment with the priorities of the administration”, according to A. Notice posted by NIHNotice states that NIH, which is the greatest source of wealth for medical research in the world, will now follow the comprehensive scientific integrity policy of the Department of Health and Human Services.
NIH, the notice states, “Scientific is committed to maintaining principles of integrity.”
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NIH policy, which was final Updated during the last months of Biden administrationA commitment involves “diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) is an integral part of the entire scientific process.”
“The focus on DIA can improve the success of the scientific workforce, promote innovation in the conduct of science and use, and can provide more equal participation in science by diverse communities.”
The HHS policy NIH does not include any such diversity language, which now means to follow.
HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the policy was drawn due to diversity language. NIH Niti, he said, “weapon” was done by the Biden administration to “harmful dei and gender ideology to inject research.
Refruiting the policy, he said, “will allow NIH to restore science to its gold standard and protect the integrity of science through HHS policy.”
The move has worried to scientists and public health experts, who argue that the Trump administration has already politicized science by abolishing HHS offices focused on health equity and climate change, Cancellation of research grants Administration does not like racial health inequalities and other subjects, and Remove health data From HHS website.
“When someone takes back a policy at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, the Milken Institute School of Public Health, the natural question is whether they are doing so because they know that they will violate it.”
The agency’s own scientific integrity policy was defended during the second week of NIH director J Bhattacharya.
Bhattacharya himself has conducted federally funded research in racial health inequalities, including A 2012 paper writings It was found that black patients had a higher mortality rate after heart transplant than white patients. During the hearing of his confirmation, Bhattacharya told the senators that he would not allow NIH to be impressed by the executive orders of President Donald Trump, which prohibits funds and communications for initiatives promoting diversity, inclusion and equity.
“The health requirements of minorities in this country are an important priority for me,” he told Sen Angela Alsobrox (D-MD). “I see nothing in the President’s orders which is a contradiction.”
Environment and Climate Health Researchers who receive money from NIH Already frightened The Trump administration can target its grant. many NIH grant for climate research Check that the health effects of climate change, such as heat related diseases, can affect the communities of colors and marginalized communities.
NIH scientific integrity policy rebuilding “risks all sciences,” Jennifer Jones, Director of Science and Democracy said in the association of scientists concerned.
In the last week, he said, HHS cut 10,000 staff members and Forced the top vaccine officer of food and drug administrationIn his resignation letter, Dr. Peter Marx, Secretary of HHS Robert F. Kennedy Junior accused that they carry forward wrong information about vaccine safety as measles spreads across the country.
“It is clear that the truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather desire to confirm his misinformation and lie,” Marx has written.
Marx’s departure underlined the need for scientific integrity policies in each HHS agencies, arguing that workers in NIH should be able to report allegations of political intervention on the integrity officers within their own agency.
He said, “We need policies to protect the scientists who live in the agency and who remain funded, and to save us from this conspiracy-minded administration,” he said.
Risse from E&E News Politico, with permission from LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides the necessary news for energy and environmental professionals.
