While Congress has prevented a government shutdown next week by passing a short-term funding bill known as a Continuing Resolution (CR) that keeps funding levels for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other agencies consistent with current year levels through December 11, NIH still faces grave threats from the proposed rule by the Office of Management & Budget (OMB).
According to multiple reports, during a White House meeting with NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and OMB Director Russ Vought last Friday, the Trump administration considered an executive order (EO) that would create a new external board of political appointees to review and approve NIH grants. This follows an earlier proposal by the OMB that would implement comprehensive changes to federal grantmaking and give political appointees within each agency greater authority over grant awards, including the ability to block or withdraw funding based on whether grants align with administration priorities.
Since OMB released its proposed rule last May, the Endocrine Society has engaged policymakers via our campaigns, Hill days, and coalition activities to educate them about the impacts of these actions and has urged Congress to intervene and prevent these actions from going into effect. Because of our advocacy and advocacy by others, Congress is listening and beginning to act. The CR includes language that temporarily prevents OMB from finalizing or implementing its proposed rule through December 11 and Members of Congress from both parties also quickly pushed back against the potential NIH executive order.
But the threat is not resolved. The OMB rule has only been temporarily blocked. The White House has not confirmed reports that it is retreating from the EO proposal. Consequently, it is more important than ever that all congressional offices hear from their constituents about the need to urge the Administration to withdraw the proposed rule and prevent the enactment of any policies that undermine a federal grant system grounded in scientific merit, transparency, and stability. We need all US-based Endocrine Society members to share our message by sending a letter to your Representative and Senators through our online campaign. Join the Endocrine Society’s advocacy campaign today and urge your Members of Congress to fund and protect NIH.
Representative Kim Schrier (D-WA) has been named as the new Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. Representative Schrier and will replace Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) when the new Congress convenes in January 2027. Congresswoman DeGette lost her primary earlier this year. Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) will continue to serve as the Republican Co-Chair of the Caucus. Dr. Schrier is the only pediatrician serving in Congress and the only Representative living with Type 1 diabetes. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 16 years old. The Society has a longstanding partnership with the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. We work closely with the co-chairs on a wide range of issues affecting endocrinologists and the patients they treat. These issues include insulin affordability and funding for the Special Diabetes Program. We are grateful to Representative DeGette for her leadership and accomplishments on diabetes issues during her twenty-two years in Congress. We look forward to working with Representative Schrier on these priorities in the next Congress. You can read the press announcement here on Representative DeGette’s website. The statement includes a quote from Endocrine Society President, Nanette Santoro, MD.
We rely on your voice to advocate for our policy priorities. Join us to show our strength as a community that cares about endocrinology. Contact your US representatives or European Members of Parliament through our online platform. Take action and make a difference today.
