27 UNIHTED/NIH Vigils Newsletter 6/13/26

Written By Cara AB

Hi NIH Vigilers and 27 UNIHTED Community,

Let’s get to it!

Vigil “Auntie” News 

- The Good -

The Bethesda Declaration: One Year Later. On Tuesday, June 9, the one-year anniversary of the Bethesda Declaration, organizers released a comprehensive report documenting deepening harms and proposed solutions. A subgroup also published The Quiet Attack on Science, tracing 18 months of changes that subvert NIH peer review.

Scientific societies unite against Vought’s OMB grant rule. The research community is mobilizing to condemn an OMB proposed rule that would sideline peer review, give political appointees final say on funding, and predicate federal funding on political alignment. A growing number of science societies have taken a stand, from asking for a 45-day extension to calling out the problems with the rule itself. Comment by July 13, and here is a link to suggestions on leaving a meaningful comment.

Senators press RFK Jr. on public health and pandemic preparedness. Seventeen senators, led by Sen. Patty Murray, demanded answers from HHS on leadership gaps in Ebola, hantavirus, and measles. They point out that only 6 of 18 Senate-confirmed public health posts are filled, and 13 of 27 NIH institutes lack permanent directors, including NIAID where all top leadership is gone.  

Medical societies break with RFK Jr. and turn on leaders who don’t. The AMA elected an outspoken critic of RFK Jr.; the American College of OB-GYN issued a maternal vaccine schedule (endorsed by many societies) that diverges from CDC’s. Leaders in the American Diabetes Assn resigned in protest after the organization ejected researchers for handing out a manuscript critical of Trump.

Trump officials buried a federal alcohol study; researchers published it anyway. A government-commissioned report to inform new U.S. dietary guidelines was shelved, then released June 9 in a scientific journal. It found even low levels of drinking pose health risks and no net benefit, findings at odds with the push to soften federal alcohol guidance. 

- The Ugly -

NIH-funded investigators dropped in 2025, minority researchers hit hardest. A new study confirms NIH supported 4% fewer scientists in 2025, the first decline in a decade. The decrease was greater among Black PIs at 9.8%, Hispanic PIs at 7.3%, and Black fellows at about 40%.

NIH issued Schedule Policy/career notices to division directors and branch chiefs across NIH, stripping key decision-makers of civil service protections. This will make NIH less stable and increase the impact of political pressure.

Crackdown on campus protest escalates. Federal prosecutors indicted eight pro-Palestinian activists tied to the University of Michigan, alleging a threat campaign over the school's ties to Israel. This adds to mounting federal pressure on student and campus dissent, though the charges (threats, witness tampering) are more serious than the protest-suppression cases we raised here before.

NIH proposes to cap number of research grants allowed per investigator.  Feedback on NIH’s proposal to cap the number of simultaneous research project grants per principal investigator has been mixed. The concern is although the proposal may have some benefit, this administration's way of conducting business does not bring lots of hope that the policy will be enacted in a way that will actually allow the cap to support an increase in grant funding broadly. For example, firm caps could penalize scientists who receive many small grants or who share grants via multiple principal investigator arrangements, if no exceptions are included for these scenarios. 

Science Interrupted

Reflection from the Community

We're all tired. But we're going to keep going, because we love the mission of the NIH, and we know it's bigger than us.

-Anna Culbertson, Former Scientific Program Specialist, NIAID

Leadership Watch

Raymond H. Jacobson, Ph.D., was chosen to be the new director of NIH’s Center for Scientific Review (CSR).

Calls To Action

Comment on: 

Contact your Representatives and urge them to: 

  • Support the legally recognized NIH Fellows Union

  • Replace new Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee members with reputable, caring, competent people

Impeach Vought campaign has 1,930+ signatures! Urge Congress to impeach OMB Director Russell Vought for unlawfully dismantling government services that Americans rely on. Stand with EPA scientists,  Sign the petition to support silenced EPA staff retaliated against for speaking out to protect science and public health. https://tr.ee/oPKziTFTor

Support 27 UNIHTED. Former NIHers and HHS staff need your support. Review a resume, host a job workshop, plan a happy hour, volunteer and/or advocate with 27 UNIHTED. Take action and volunteer: https://www.27unihted.org/call-to-action

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Wellness Weekly

Our somewhat serious community recommendations for self care are:

  • Read a fantasy book

  • Watch Law and Order (some people relax that way, really!)

  • Read a bedtime story with your kids

  • Turn off your phone

In solidarity,

27 UNIHTED and NIH Vigils

Cara AB
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27 UNIHTED/NIH Vigils Newsletter 6/7/26