In a significant move reflecting its budgetary priorities, the Trump administration has withdrawn $1.81 billion in medical research funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over a five-week period earlier this year.

According to a recent analysis published in JAMA, between February 28 and April 8, the NIH canceled 694 grants as part of broader efforts to reduce federal spending.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases experienced the largest reduction, losing nearly $506 million in funding. The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities faced cuts amounting to approximately $224 million, representing nearly one-third of its active funding. Additionally, the National Institute of Mental Health saw 128 grants withdrawn.

These funding cuts have raised concerns within the scientific community. Critics argue that the move disproportionately affects research areas such as LGBTQ health, COVID-19, and vaccine hesitancy. Some researchers have initiated legal action to reinstate the canceled grants, alleging that the decisions amount to an “ideological purge.”

The broader implications of these cuts are significant, with potential setbacks in medical advancements and public health initiatives. As debates continue over federal research funding, the scientific community remains vigilant about the future of medical research in the United States.

In one case, a grant supporting a study on genetic variation across populations was withdrawn after being deemed “incompatible with agency priorities,” indicating a shift in research direction under the current administration.

According to the new report, Columbia University had the highest number of canceled grants among 210 recipient institutions, with a total of 157. The Trump administration has clashed with Columbia in recent months over what it described as anti-Semitic harassment and pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the university’s New York City campus.

Johns Hopkins University, Yale University, Emory University, the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, the University of California San Francisco, and the University of Miami each had between 12 and 19 grants canceled.

The analysis also indicated that larger-than-average grants were more likely to be withdrawn. While the majority of the canceled grants were intended for research projects, about 20% were allocated for researchers’ training and career development.

Looking ahead, the White House has proposed cutting U.S. health spending by over 25% next year. As part of that plan, the Trump administration last week recommended slashing the NIH budget by $18 billion, reducing it to $27 billion.