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Vought pushes for scrutiny of NIH grants in Oval Office clash
Russell Vought argued the agency should face tighter oversight as NIH defended its $47 billion budget and said its funding is safe.
On Friday, White House budget director Russell Vought clashed with National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya in the Oval Office over the roughly $47 billion agency's spending priorities, with President Donald Trump appearing receptive to Vought's criticisms.
Vought accused the NIH of bankrolling "woke" initiatives that clash with a Trump executive order barring "equity-related" grants, and administration officials discussed a potential commission to review the agency's grant-making process.
The NIH slashed hundreds of millions of dollars last year for research tied to minority, gay, and transgender communities while issuing fewer grants for women's health; Vought has previously told CBS News the agency "needs dramatic overhaul."
An NIH spokesperson declined to discuss the meeting but stated there would be no "rescissions" of existing grant funds, affirming that all current grant monies will be spent.
Bipartisan majorities of voters oppose cutting health research, and Republican lawmakers have resisted deeper reductions; a budget office rule handing political appointees more power over federal grants remains blocked by a funding measure until December.