27 UNIHTED / NIH Vigils Newsletter 4/12/26

Written By Anna

Hi NIH Vigilers and 27 UNIHTED Community,

As we move further into April, we’re embracing the season of growth and renewal. Here’s what’s new this week!

Calls To Action

Russell Vought and RFK Jr. to testify before Congress. Join us in exposing lies! 

  • Vought 

    • 4/15: House Budget

    • 4/16: Senate Budget 

  • RFK Jr. 

    • 4/16: House Ways and Means (a.m.) and House Appropriations (p.m.)

    • 4/21: House Energy and Commerce (a.m.) and Senate Appropriations (p.m.)

    • 4/22: Senate Finance (a.m.) and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (p.m.)

Urge the NIH Assembly of Scientists (AOS) to follow Bhattacharya’s commitment to open dialogue by hosting a scientist who supports the animal reservoir COVID origin theory. Bhattacharya’s new “Scientific Freedom Lecture” series started the dialogue by hosting Matt Ridley to discuss the COVID lab leak hypothesis. Contact information for AOS members is available online. 

Impeach Vought Campaign has more than 1,600 signatures! Add your name (or anonymous voice) to the call urging Congress to impeach and convict White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. Vought’s lawlessness continues to harm the American people by impeding research, allowing big corporations to rip off consumers, privatizing America’s protected lands, and shutting down services Americans need. Thanks to @DrRabbitHole for the amazing art for this campaign! 

Reach out to your members of Congress and urge them to:

  • Support the NIH Fellows Union and the right to Unionize. NIH continues to tell staff the union is null and void, but the union is legally recognized. 

  • Introduce legislation to limit multi-year funding at NIH (Vought’s dirty trick to cut the budget for new science).

  • Call your state representatives to block the establishment of an ICE detention center in Washington County or elsewhere in Maryland.

Help the NIH Community: Review a resume, host a job workshop, plan a happy hour, volunteer and/or advocate with 27 UNIHTED. Check out the links on our website to take action and volunteer. 

Upcoming Events

27 UNIHTED Events

Community Events

  • Rise Up Frederick’s latest meetup for current and former government workers will be held Monday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m. in the C. Burr Artz Library programming room. Both contractors and FTEs are welcome to this safe space. 

  • On Monday, May 4 at noon ET, the Partnership for Public Service will host a free webinar about how to tell your federal workforce story in congressional meetings. Learn more and RSVP here. 

Vigil “Auntie” News 

- The Good -

To the Moon and back! The international, NASA-led Artemis II returned from a 10-day mission around the Moon. First completed in 1968, the feat has not been repeated since 1972. The multinational, 4-person crew flew a community-named spacecraft “Integrity” to a new human distance record of >250,000 miles from Earth. Congratulations to everyone at NASA who made this possible!   

White House abandons fight to cap indirect costs to universities. After multiple attempts to unlawfully cut indirect costs were defeated in lower courts, the White House chose not to appeal to the Supreme Court. The system holds!   

Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass highlighted the NIH No Kings Vigil in his newsletter. He thanked us all for “turning up and speaking out” for science and patients. He acknowledged NIH represents hopes for patients, and that federal workers drive the economic health of Maryland and the public health of the nation.

Powerful essays from Vigil Community on the value of DEI, genetic equity, and the “presidentialization” of NIH:

- The Bad -

EPA reassigns scientists after dissolving the research office, without input from immediate supervisors. Many reassigned scientists will have to choose between moving to assume the new roles or leaving. 

NIH Institute Director hiring to require White House approval, suggesting political interference. Traditionally, Institute Directors are selected by the NIH Director (with input from a hiring committee). Of 27 directorships, 16 are open. 

Bhattacharya withholds CDC COVID vaccine study. Results show the vaccine reduced severe illness, undermining his political rhetoric. 

OMB is further slowing notices of funding opportunity via extra approvals.

- The Ugly -

The administration requests medical records of federal workers. OPM has quietly moved to obtain unprecedented (and likely illegal!) access to medical records on millions of federal workers, retirees, and their families. The proposal would require insurance companies to share monthly records containing identifiable health data (prescriptions, treatment).

Wellness Weekly

Our somewhat serious community recommendations for self care are:

  • Walks to the fridge count toward your daily step count goal

  • Get outdoors, because pollen builds character

  • Every time a meeting could have been an email, take a drink (of water)

  • Check out our new merch shop

In solidarity,

27 UNIHTED and NIH Vigils

Anna
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27 UNIHTED / NIH Vigils Newsletter 4/5/26