White House Moves to Screen NIH Grants via External Panel

Federal officials are drafting an executive order to place National Institutes of Health grant approvals under review by an outside panel that could veto awards not aligned with the Trump administration’s priorities. The plan, discussed at a contentious White House meeting, would broaden political control over NIH’s biomedical portfolio without rescinding existing funding, pitting OMB chief Russell Vought against NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and drawing opposition from Congress and scientists who warn it threatens scientific autonomy.