Trump administration orders NIH to eliminate $2.6 billion in federal contracts April 8 is the deadline for a 35% cut in services that could affect specimen storage, genetic counseling, administration

https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/03/nih-35-percent-cut-contracts-trump-administration/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--FFv2uBo9RH6jPWlzSewoF-lSAKaOwKDOol5FNgjYGXCYunyGk2sWSLv0HeUHkdABM36zcZtun-bcWeR7J7AX5qTOWYQ&_hsmi=355169589&utm_content=355169589&utm_source=hs_email National Institutes of Health leaders must figure out how to cut $2.6 billion in contracts from the biomedical research agency’s budget by April 8, according to several sources. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon told STAT that the 35% reduction in NIH contracts is part of a strategic cost-savings initiative across all divisions of HHS. It’s worrisome news for an already-troubled agency. After Tuesday’s cuts, the NIH is down 1,200 employees, including the directors of five institutes and the heads of several labs, and has had key grantmaking, research training, and science communication functions severely limited since Trump’s return to the White House. To understand the unique needs met by the agency’s contractors, including long-term freezer storage of biospecimens and genetic counseling for clinical research volunteers, read the story from STAT’s Megan Molteni (and stay for the kicker quote).