Fact Check: "The Trump administration has ended or frozen approximately $90 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, with nearly 200 other grants facing delays."
What We Know
The claim that the Trump administration has ended or frozen approximately $90 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) is supported by various reports. According to a letter from the NIH, there were significant concerns regarding funding cuts and freezes on grants during Trump's presidency, particularly affecting research institutions (source-1). Reports indicate that the Trump administration imposed a policy to cap indirect costs for NIH research grants, which could potentially impact billions in funding for critical research (source-2).
Furthermore, the administration's actions led to a freeze on grant review meetings, which are essential for the approval of new research funding (source-3). This freeze affected many ongoing projects and delayed nearly 200 grants (source-4).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from credible sources, including official communications from the NIH and reports from established news outlets. The NIH's acknowledgment of funding issues and the impact of the Trump administration's policies on grant approvals lend weight to the assertion that significant funding was indeed frozen or delayed.
However, the specific figure of $90 million is not universally confirmed across all sources. While it is clear that there were substantial funding cuts and freezes, the exact amount may vary based on different interpretations of the data and the timeframes considered. Additionally, the context of these funding issues is critical; they were part of broader policy changes that aimed to reshape how federal research funding was allocated, which included controversial measures that faced legal challenges (source-5).
The reliability of the sources is generally high, with many coming from governmental or well-respected news organizations. However, some reports may carry a political bias, particularly those from partisan sources, which could influence the framing of the information.
Conclusion
The claim that the Trump administration has ended or frozen approximately $90 million in grants from the NIH and NSF, with nearly 200 other grants facing delays, is Partially True. While there is substantial evidence indicating that significant funding was indeed frozen or delayed, the specific figure of $90 million may not be definitively accurate across all contexts. The broader implications of these funding changes and their impact on scientific research are well-documented, but exact financial figures can vary based on different analyses.
Sources
- Matthew Memoli Acting Director National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Trump Team Dismantles Efforts to Find a Cure for Cancer and Other
- Trump hits NIH with 'devastating' freezes on meetings
- NIH partially lifts freeze on funding process for medical research
- Trump's DEI order leaves academic researchers fearful of political
- Revealed: NIH research grants still frozen despite lawsuits
- The Scientific Research Lost Amid the Trump Administration's NIH Cuts