The Voice News: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world’s largest funder of medical research, is facing severe budget reductions under the Trump administration. Dr. Timothy Johnson, former ABC News medical editor and founding editor of the Harvard Medical School Health Letter, has called the cuts “reckless destruction.”
Drawing from his decades in medical journalism, Dr. Johnson emphasized that many groundbreaking discoveries in healthcare have been made possible only through federal funding. “Without government support,” he noted, “these achievements simply wouldn’t have happened.”
A recent report reveals that the NIH has halted payments on grants worth more than $1.8 billion, affecting nearly 700 research projects. Dr. Johnson warns that this abrupt approach could devastate promising research efforts and derail the careers of early-career scientists who are on the verge of critical breakthroughs.
Public backlash is growing. Demonstrators took to the streets during a national “Kill The Cuts” day of action, protesting against funding reductions to healthcare, medical research, and education. Meanwhile, experts are concerned about a possible “brain drain” as U.S. scientists may seek opportunities abroad, reversing the post-WWII trend of global talent flocking to American labs.
Dr. Johnson urges policymakers to consider more targeted budget strategies that preserve vital research infrastructure. “This is not just a policy choice—it’s a matter of national health,” he said. “And if I may use a medical term, choosing to preserve this research is a no-brainer.”