WATCH: Baldwin Presses NIH Director on Trump Administration’s Deep Cuts to Lifesaving Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS), led a hearing on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget and questioned NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya about why the Trump administration is ripping away NIH funding that supports lifesaving research into cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases. Baldwin pressed Dr. Bhattacharya on both why he has effectively delayed or cut thousands of NIH grants in the first few months of 2025, and also how his proposal for next year would slash the NIH budget and lifesaving research by 40%. Senator Baldwin also specifically pressed Dr. Bhattacharya on a new policy scheme that the administration is implementing right now that hides even deeper cuts to research.

“If Donald Trump gets his way, billions in funding for lifesaving research will be ripped away to fund tax breaks for the rich, and it’s American families that will pay the price with their health,” said Senator Baldwin. “It’s not just wrong – it’s cruel. I won’t stop fighting on behalf of the millions of families who are holding out hope their loved one battling cancer, ALS, or Alzheimer’s disease has a fighting chance.”

Dr. Bhattacharya testified in front of the Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee today to defend President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal for the NIH, which would rip away $18 billion – a 40% cut – in NIH funding for lifesaving breakthroughs. The budget request shows that it plans to cut the number of grants NIH awards by 4,000 this year and 15,000 next year, which would be a devastating blow for research institutions, scientists, and patients nationwide. A recent report found that nearly 2,500 NIH grants have been ended or delayed. In addition to terminating $4.9 billion in active research grants, the NIH has awarded 3,288 fewer disease studies and research projects compared to the same time period last year. Senator Baldwin pressed Director Bhattacharya specifically about the disastrous new forward funding policy that would dramatically reduce the number of grants NIH awards next year, and the need for Congress to step in and stop NIH from implementing it.

Senator Baldwin led a forum earlier this year to spotlight how cuts are impacting researchers and Americans in clinical trials. Senator Baldwin also sent a letter, together with Senator Murray and Representative DeLauro, to Director Bhattacharya pressing him for information about the thousands of NIH grants that have been terminated under his watch.

A full recording of Senator Baldwin’s opening remarks is available here.

A full recording of Senator Baldwin’s questions is available here.

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