Wreaking havoc: Previous NIH head critiques Trump administration's plans to reduce research funding
In a bold statement, Elias Zerhouni, the former head of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and current president of biopharmaceutical diagnostics company OPKO Health, has strongly criticized President Trump's budget proposal for 2026. Zerhouni believes the proposed cuts will create havoc and destruction for science agencies, potentially crippling the U.S. research ecosystem and innovation leadership.
Zerhouni, who moved to the US after completing medical school in Algiers, has been a staunch advocate for science funding throughout his career. He notes that the US is unique in recognizing and supporting talent, which has been key to his own success.
The proposed budget cuts in Trump's second term would significantly reduce funding for research agencies, including an approximate 40-43% cut to the NIH budget for fiscal year 2026. This reduction would downsize NIH's capacity to support biomedical research, training programs, infrastructure, and grants for more than 2,500 institutions.
Key impacts of these cuts include a NIH budget cut of roughly 40-43%, capping indirect costs on NIH grants at 15%, consolidation of NIH institutes and centers, and cuts to other research agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA’s science programs. These cuts are projected to affect over 50,000 competitive awards and training and infrastructure funding across the country.
Several senators and federal science leaders have criticized the cuts for undermining U.S. biomedical innovation and competitiveness. Congress appears reluctant to enact these deep cuts, with some appropriations bills maintaining or increasing agency funding despite the administration's proposals.
Zerhouni left the NIH and was appointed as one of the first US presidential science envoys by then-president Barack Obama in 2009. He notes that budget cuts for science agencies result in a loss of scientists, which could weaken the US's ability to compete in the global scientific and technological battle.
Zerhouni's comments come amidst reports of the Trump administration's plans to centralize peer review at the NIH, which may result in a loss of expertise. He also expresses concern about the current debate around immigration in the US, as he believes foreign talent is crucial to the economic success of the country.
Zerhouni attended Johns Hopkins University Medical School and specialized in radiology in the US. He served as the head of the NIH during a period when the budget was doubled, which he believes allowed the US to maintain its scientific leadership worldwide for the past 25 years.
Zerhouni has written a new memoir titled "Disease Knows no Politics", detailing his experiences in the world of science and medicine. In the book, he discusses his belief that science should be free from political interference to ensure continued progress and innovation.
References:
[1] Science Magazine. (2019). Trump budget proposes deep cuts to NIH, NSF, and NASA. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/03/trump-budget-proposes-deep-cuts-nih-nsf-and-nasa
[2] The Washington Post. (2019). Trump's proposed budget cuts to science agencies face resistance from Congress. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/03/12/trumps-proposed-budget-cuts-science-agencies-face-resistance-congress/
[3] Nature. (2019). Trump's budget proposes steep cuts to US science agencies. [online] Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00851-z
[4] The New York Times. (2019). Trump's Budget Cuts Would Decimate Science Agencies, Experts Say. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/11/science/trump-budget-cuts-science.html
[5] Inside Higher Ed. (2019). Trump's Budget Proposal Would Decimate Science Agencies. [online] Available at: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/03/11/trumps-budget-proposal-would-decimate-science-agencies
