Republican senators have raised concerns about the delayed release of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds following a letter sent to the Trump administration. Led by Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), the 14 GOP lawmakers have urged the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to fully implement the stopgap government funding package enacted earlier this year. The delay, they argue, could undermine biomedical research and hinder America’s ability to develop new treatments for patients.
Britt, who chairs the Senate Appropriations homeland subcommittee, wrote in the letter that withholding or suspending NIH funds could jeopardize public trust in the agency, which is the top funder of biomedical research in the country. The senators emphasize that the NIH’s purpose is to advance scientific discovery and deliver real-world patient outcomes. They also underscore that the funding delays risk interrupting ongoing research projects that are critical to addressing major health challenges.
The letter warns that the slow disbursement of these funds could result in the premature suspension of NIH-funded projects, thereby impeding progress on vital medical research. The senators argue that their demand for the timely release of funds is not about partisan politics but rather about fulfilling the intent of the original spending bill and supporting the nation’s health infrastructure.
In addition to Britt, the letter was signed by prominent Republican leaders including Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), as well as several subcommittee chairs such as Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.). These signatories highlight the bipartisan weight of the issue, as multiple key Senate committees have expressed concern over the delayed release of these NIH funds.
The senators also reiterate their confidence in Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, emphasizing the importance of maintaining accountability and ensuring these funds are used for their intended purpose. However, they caution that any delay in the release of these funds could jeopardize the future of biomedical research and compromise the nation’s ability to lead in the global fight against health threats.
The delay in NIH funding has drawn particular attention due to the role of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a major NIH grant recipient and the largest employer in Alabama. The senators have urged the administration to prioritize both the immediate release of these funds and the long-term stability of biomedical research in the United States.