NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya MD, PhD, testified on June 10 before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) [refer to Washington Highlights, June 6]. Lawmakers pointed out multiple areas of concern and questioned Bhattacharya about proposed cuts to NIH funding and programs, ongoing disruptions and terminations of NIH funding taking place at research institutions, proposed changes to facilities and administrative (F&A) cost reimbursement, and NIH structural reforms.
In her opening statement, subcommittee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) expressed that support for biomedical research has long been a bicameral, bipartisan priority for Congress. “I, along with many of my colleagues on this committee, think it is important that America remains the leader in biomedical innovation and research,” Capito stated. She also highlighted the importance of sustaining momentum in areas like Alzheimer’s disease, childhood cancer, and substance use disorders.
Full committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) in her opening remarks noted that the administration’s proposal to reduce the NIH budget by approximately 40% is “disturbing.” Collins asserted that the NIH’s proposed 15% cap on F&A cost reimbursement is both “poorly conceived” and “against federal law,” contending that the policy will lead to scientists leaving the United States for opportunities in other countries, causing promising medical research to be abandoned.
Subcommittee Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) raised strong concerns about the budget request and ongoing disruptions in grant funding, noting, “To date, NIH has taken the completely unprecedented step of terminating 2,370 active grants and $4.9 billion in funding. It has significantly delayed the awarding of new grants and continuation grants. It has prevented research institutions from accessing their existing grant funds.” Baldwin further described disruptions in current Alzheimer’s, cancer, and rare disease research.
During the hearing, Bhattacharya outlined his vision for the agency, emphasizing that he looks forward to collaborating with Congress and recognizes the need for agency reform to “restore our reputation among the American people and address the chronic disease crisis.” He shared how the NIH is working to accelerate innovation by integrating advances in data science, using the agency’s large-scale data resources to understand the causes of autism. He also described how the NIH has implemented a number of reforms to enhance oversight, transparency, and safety. Bhattacharya emphasized that a diversity of opinion is essential in driving scientific progress and noted that ensuring research can be replicated will be a priority for the agency going forward.