Trump Order Lets Political Officers Override NIH Peer Review, Ending 80 Years of Merit-Based Funding

An August 7 executive order empowers political appointees to cancel or approve federal research grants without deference to peer review recommendations. The directive disrupts eight decades of NIH practice wherein scientific merit determined funding. Current and former NIH officials warn the change enables political blocking of meritorious grants while advancing politically favored projects that may not meet rigorous standards. Combined with simplified review frameworks implemented in January 2025, the shift fundamentally relocates funding authority from scientific judgment to political priority.