Americans react to Trump effort to dismantle biomedical research

Lisa McCormick, a prominent progressive New Jersey Democrat, sharply criticized the Trump administration's decision to cap the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reimbursement rate for indirect costs at 15%.

McCormick called the move an illegal and reckless attack on scientific progress, public health, and the future of biomedical research in America.

"Trump's administration, backed by billionaire Elon Musk and his secretive DOGE agency, is dismantling the backbone of American biomedical research," McCormick said, accusing the Republican oligarchs of pushing a broad agenda to deconstruct the federal government.

McCormick said that the cuts would have a disastrous impact on medical research across the country, including critical fields like cancer and heart disease research.

"This attack is catastrophic for patients, researchers, and our economy," said McCormick.

The policy, announced late last week by NIH, will drastically reduce funding for "indirect costs" associated with research. These include essential administrative expenses, laboratory maintenance, and other operational costs.

The move is expected to save more than $4 billion annually but has sparked concern from universities and medical organizations, who argue that it will cripple scientific progress and put countless research projects in jeopardy.

McCormick pointed out that the change violates the bipartisan Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations law, which explicitly prohibits modifications to NIH's indirect costs. "This decision not only ignores the law but also shows a complete disregard for the future of American science and innovation," said McCormick.

The cuts are expected to have wide-reaching effects on research institutions in New Jersey, which have benefited from substantial NIH funding.

In fiscal year 2023 alone, the NIH awarded $404 million to New Jersey institutions, supporting over 5,000 jobs and generating $1.32 billion in economic activity. McCormick warned that the new policy would lead to job losses, disrupt clinical trials, and delay medical breakthroughs.

Scientists and academic leaders nationwide have expressed alarm over the decision, with some questioning its legality. Matt Owens, president of the Council on Government Relations (COGR), stated that the policy contradicted existing law and would harm U.S. global leadership in biomedical research.

"This is a surefire way to cripple lifesaving research and innovation," said Owens.

Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, called the move "short-sighted, naive, and dangerous," warning that it would sabotage the decades-long partnership between the federal government and research institutions.

Former Harvard Medical School Dean Jeffrey Flier also condemned the decision, describing it as a blow to biomedical research and a move that "a sane government would never make."

The Trump administration and Musk's Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) crusade, have defended the cuts as necessary to reduce "excessive administrative costs" and streamline government spending. Musk's office praised the move on social media, claiming it would result in significant savings for taxpayers.

However, McCormick and many others see this as part of a broader agenda to weaken the federal government and limit its role in regulating and supporting critical sectors such as public health and scientific research.

McCormick tied the NIH cuts to other controversial policies championed by the Trump administration, including its stance on gun violence and healthcare.

"Trump's priorities are clear—protect the wealthy, dismantle government services, and leave Americans vulnerable," McCormick said. "This decision is a betrayal of the millions of families battling diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and substance use disorders. It must be reversed immediately."

With the policy set to take effect immediately, McCormick and other critics are calling for urgent action to halt the changes.

Since Trump’s razor-thin victory in the November election—where he secured just 49% of the national popular vote—

After federal courts restrained his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing the Treasury Department’s payment systems, Trump's attempt to negate the 14th Amendment and other legal setbacks, Musk suggested that judges who have erected roadblocks to his cost-cutting crusade to trim bureaucracy should be impeached.

"The stakes are too high to ignore," she concluded. "We cannot allow this reckless decision to go unchallenged. The future of American science and public health depends on it."