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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.
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The Washington Post broke the news in Washington, United States on Friday, September 18, 2026.
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