The Trump administration's proposal to cut $4 billion from medical research grants has raised concerns among Republican senators, particularly as institutions in GOP-led states could face significant reductions in federal aid.
According to The Washington Examiner, Senator Katie Britt, a Republican from Alabama, expressed apprehension over the potential impact of these cuts on her state. Alabama could lose over $47.5 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the proposed reductions. Britt voiced her concerns about the potential implications for research at the University of Alabama.
A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump policy on Monday, but this injunction only applies to the 22 states that filed a lawsuit. Notably, Alabama is not among these states.
"We're taking a look across the board at everything and making sure that we're being efficient with taxpayer dollars," Britt said. "I also understand the importance of NIH and the research it does, and the work that is done that ultimately saves lives. I want to make sure that that important research can continue in an effective and efficient way."
Britt has previously advocated for a "smart, targeted approach" to changes in aid. This latest development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing struggle to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services. Britt intends to discuss the issue with Kennedy before a confirmation vote later this week.
Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, has already expressed her support for Kennedy's confirmation. However, she has also voiced her concerns about what she termed a "poorly conceived directive." The proposed NIH order would limit the agency's coverage of administrative expenses for "indirect costs" like overhead to 15%, a significant decrease from the current average of nearly 28%. This move could save more than $4 billion annually, according to the NIH, and the funding supports a wide range of biomedical research, including studies on cancer and chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Collins stated that Kennedy "promised that as soon as he is confirmed, he will reexamine this initiative that was implemented prior to his confirmation."
Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have echoed these concerns. Cassidy plans to support Kennedy after the HHS nominee, who is known for his skepticism of vaccines, made certain concessions to the former physician.
"I've spoken to folks from Louisiana who say that for universities which [do not have] super big endowments, it'll be very difficult for them to conduct this research," Cassidy said. "Of course, I want people in Louisiana to benefit from research dollars. [Its] important to not only go to Massachusetts and California."
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), however, has shown more support for the Trump administration's efforts to curb "bogus" administrative costs. "I think an audit and a review process is in order," Cornyn said. "Institutions that are being good stewards of the money that they've been given for research are not going to have a problem."
Texas, the third-largest recipient of NIH funding behind California and New York, could lose approximately $303 million under the proposed cuts, as per data from the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.
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