27 UNIHTED / NIH Vigils Newsletter 2/8/26
Hi NIH Vigilers and 27 UNIHTED community,
Happy February!
Calls to Action
Leave comments on the Federal Register or NIH’s website — stop harmful policy targeting stem cell research!
Reach out to your Representatives and urge them to:
Re-authorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program
Introduce legislation to limit multi-year funding at NIH (Vought’s dirty trick to cut the budget for new science)
Support the “Follow the Science Act,” that would shield NIH from many sources of political interference
Oppose Oregon National Primate Research Center closure
Help Out the NIH Community:
Review a resume
Host a job workshop
Plan a happy hour
Volunteer and/or advocate with 27 UNIHTED
Find more links to take action and volunteer on our website!
Upcoming Events
27 UNIHTED Events:
Weekly Peer Empowerment Call every Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
Weekly NIH Vigil every Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
Barnstorm Fundraiser. Join 27 UNIHTED on Sunday, February 15 at Bethesda Boards (7900 Woodmont Ave.) for a folk music concert to support displaced NIH workers. A first show will be at 6:00 p.m. (doors open 5:00 p.m.) and a second at 8:30 p.m. (doors open 8:00 p.m.) Special guest: Former NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins. Purchase tickets through the Bethesda Boards website. Tickets cost $40 but fired feds attend free. Email info@27unihted.org for more information.
Community Events
Cabaret Nights at Spotlight Theatre presents Allstrike on Sunday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets available now!
Join Stand Up for Science at the Rally to Take Back Science, Health, and Democracy on March 7 in Washington, DC
Another No Kings Rally will be held nationwide on March 28.
Vigil “Auntie” News
Sad News
Final Schedule F rule. OPM released the final schedule F (Career / Policy) rule, which allows agencies “to quickly remove employees from critical positions who engage in misconduct, perform poorly, or obstruct the democratic process by intentionally subverting Presidential directives.” The rule removes career civil service protections for 50,000 federal employees, further politicizes the workforce, and pushes us back toward the spoils system.
The NIH-funded Oregon National Primate Research Center Being Politically Pressured to Stop Research, Convert Into a Sanctuary. Closing centers like this will result in fewer future therapies and reduced safety of therapies about to enter clinical trials. It may also negatively impact the resident monkeys if poorly planned. Right now, the United States has a serious shortage of research primates. When centers like this one that also breed primates are shut down, research entities will source animals outside of the United States and possibly from the wild. This could set a precedent for other centers.
National Institute of Standards and Technology May Be Firing International Scientists. We are concerned this may translate to the NIH and other agencies with strong scientific components. International researchers contribute to innovation and enrich NIH.
News That Doesn’t Surprise Us Anymore
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya Lied to the Senate HELP Committee, 27 UNIHTED Mentioned in Public Report Citations. The Senate HELP committee held a hearing on NIH with NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya. Again, the NIH Director lied to Congress and the American people on the number and impact of terminated clinical trials and on the impact of policies. He avoided tough questions on vaccines and public health. On a positive note, the public record of the hearing released by Senator Bernie Sanders cited 27 UNIHTED’s Biohealth Beats and revealed important information about NIH functioning.
Fighting Back
NIH Whistleblower Dr. Jenna Norton Files Complaint Against the Administration. NIH program officer placed on “non-disciplinary administrative leave” at the end of 2025 filed an official complaint for unlawful retaliation. Jenna is a community hero and her actions have sparked bravery across the NIH and federal employees alike. Jenna is a cherished member of the NIH Vigils community and a leading organizer of the Bethesda Declaration who volunteers with 27 UNIHTED and bravely speaks out in defense of science and a public-serving NIH.
Wellness Weekly
Our somewhat serious community recommendations for self care are:
Watch cartoons
Eat a bagel
Positive News
27 UNIHTED filed 501C4 incorporation articles with the state of Delaware last Friday!
So although there’s lots of sad news, there’s also lots to be grateful for and excited about.
In solidarity,
27 UNIHTED and NIH Vigils