NIH defies Trump by funding over $1.3 billion in DEI programs
- NIH is funding over $1.3 billion in DEI-related grants despite an executive order aimed at eliminating such programs.
- Critics argue that NIH's funding approach complicates compliance with federal laws prohibiting race-based considerations.
- The situation at NIH contrasts with other agencies, which have taken steps to cut DEI programs, raising concerns about ideological consistency in federal funding.
In March 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is reported to have more than $1.3 billion in active grants that include components related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These grants continue to be funded despite an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January 2021 that aimed to eliminate DEI programs from federal agencies. The order labeled such programs as radical and wasteful, yet NIH has maintained its commitment to these initiatives, which are characterized by various approaches, including race-based hiring and training programs. During Trump's administration, an emphasis was placed on reversing policies that were seen as ideology-driven and not aligned with the core scientific mission of federal bodies. This resulted in several agencies substantially cut DEI programs as part of a broader ideological shift. However, NIH's reluctance to cut these programs exemplifies the challenges of executing such wide-ranging directives, especially when dealing with existing multi-year grant commitments. Many of the NIH programs in question were originally focused on significant scientific research goals but began to incorporate DEI language and objectives during their renewal phases to align with the previous administration's priorities. The ongoing existence of these DEI components raises questions about compliance with federal law prohibiting race-based considerations in funding decisions. Critics have expressed concerns about these programs contributing to a politicization of scientific research and undermining the merit-based system historically upheld in scholarly institutions. Moreover, some other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have taken decisive actions by canceling a majority of their DEI-related contracts. This contrasts starkly with NIH's situation, and highlights differing enforcement of the administration's objectives across government agencies. The ongoing funding of DEI programs at NIH may not only be out of step with the explicit directives from the Trump administration but could potentially create legal violations regarding federal anti-discrimination laws.