More than 2,000 staff members at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have signed a letter denouncing recent Trump administration policies that they say are politicizing science and undermining lifesaving research.
Dubbed the “Bethesda Declaration,” the letter accuses NIH leadership under Director Jay Bhattacharya of enacting grant freezes, terminating ongoing research, and halting global collaborations in pursuit of ideological goals. “Academic freedom should not be applied selectively based on political ideology,” the staffers wrote.
Criticizing the abrupt cancellation of near-complete studies and a 15% cap on indirect costs, the signatories warn that these policies waste public funds and stall scientific progress. “Ending a $5 million research study when it is 80% complete does not save $1 million, it wastes $4 million,” they said.
Bhattacharya responded on X, defending the changes as necessary for removing “ideological influence” and enhancing accountability. He denied the NIH has stopped international collaboration and said some terminated employees have already been reinstated.
Lawsuits challenging the cuts are proceeding in federal court.
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