White House cancels executive order that would have increased control over NIH grants

The Trump administration has dropped plans for a controversial executive order that would have established a political review board to oversee National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. The proposal, championed by OMB Director Russell Vought, aimed to curtail diversity initiatives and target funding for institutions like Harvard. However, it faced intense bipartisan pushback from lawmakers, including Senator Susan Collins, who warned it would undermine the NIH's merit-based peer review process.

Cancellation and future plans for the executive order

• ▪The Trump administration dropped plans for an executive order that would have given the White House and political appointees greater control over National Institutes of Health research grants on September 23, 2026.
• ▪White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles reportedly expressed concern over the potential impact of the proposed executive order on National Institutes of Health grants.
• ▪The Trump administration reportedly aims to revisit the issue of National Institutes of Health grant oversight after the 2026 midterm elections.

Origins and details of the proposed executive order

• ▪President Donald Trump supported the proposed executive order in part to target and restrict federal research funding for Harvard University.
• ▪The proposed executive order sought to establish a review board of political appointees, including Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, with veto power over National Institutes of Health grants.
• ▪The proposed executive order aimed to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in scientific research funded by the National Institutes of Health.
• ▪The proposed executive order arose from a September 18, 2026 Oval Office meeting where Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought accused the National Institutes of Health of funding projects that did not align with administration goals.

Congressional opposition and funding threats

• ▪Congressional opponents warned that issuing the executive order could prevent the passage of a continuing resolution to fund the government past December 11, 2026.
• ▪Senator Susan Collins sent a letter on September 22, 2026, to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya urging them to abandon the proposed executive order.
• ▪A stopgap government funding bill passed in September 2026 blocked a prior Office of Management and Budget proposal, known as the Uniform Guidance proposed rule, which sought to give political appointees authority to review federal grants.
• ▪Senators Susan Collins and Patty Murray, along with Representative Rosa DeLauro, issued statements opposing the proposed executive order on September 21, 2026.

Patty Murray's response

• ▪Senator Patty Murray criticized the proposed executive order, stating it would defund lifesaving research and shred patients' hopes for new treatments and cures.
• ▪Senator Patty Murray welcomed the news that the White House dropped plans for the proposed executive order in a statement on September 23, 2026.

Defense of the NIH peer review process

• ▪Senator Susan Collins stated the proposed political review committee risked undermining the Congressionally-mandated National Institutes of Health peer review process, arguing research should be funded based on scientific merit rather than political ideology.
• ▪The peer review process at the National Institutes of Health has contributed to 174 scientists working at or funded by the agency winning Nobel Prizes.

Debatable claims

• ▪The executive branch has the authority to reform NIH grantmaking without congressional approval
• ▪Restricting federal research grants to target specific universities is a justified use of executive authority
• ▪The White House should have political oversight and veto power over NIH research grants
• ▪Congress is justified in risking a government shutdown to block executive overreach on federal grants