Sources: White House to propose 20 percent cut to NIH funding
Source: Roll Call
Posted March 27, 2026 at 12:38pm, Updated at 3:45pm
The White House is expected to ask Congress to cut National Institutes of Health spending by 20 percent in the president’s fiscal 2027 budget request, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the planning. The budget request, slated for release next week, reflects President Donald Trump’s policy priorities and acts as a guide to lawmakers as they draft appropriations bills for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Cuts of that size would be a step down from the 40 percent reductions the Trump White House proposed last year, but would still represent a massive blow to the biomedical research agency, and one that would get major push back from lawmakers of both parties. The NIH received $48.7 billion in fiscal 2026, a $415 million increase over the previously enacted level. The Trump administration last year proposed $29.3 billion for fiscal 2026.
The sources, all in the medical research industry, said that the administration will once again propose consolidating some of the agency’s operations, though whether that would mirror proposals from last year isn’t clear.The ask may be surprising to lawmakers who summarily rejected the requested cuts last year. When asked Thursday about potential cuts, Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, said her “views are very apparent on that,” and noted the current fiscal year’s increase.
The White House disputed the information provided by these sources. “This story is false,” said Rachel Cauley, communications director at the White House Office of Management and Budget. She declined to provide additional details. NIH funding also became a point of contention last year when the administration terminated or froze over 1,800 research grants, particularly targeting those related to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Many were later reinstated.
Read more: https://rollcall.com/2026/03/27/sources-white-house-to-propose-20-percent-cut-to-nih-funding/