NIH Vigils Newsletter 11/2/2025
Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that welcomes back the souls of departed loved ones. This week, we reconnected with research, programs, and values that have been lost at the NIH since January.
We also honored a brilliant, vibrant soul who was taken from us too soon this week, MOSAIC scholar and transgender activist Dr. Zara Weinberg.
Shutdown
The government shutdown is one month old and continues with no end in sight. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson cancelled yet another week of work in the House. Trump signaled the Senate to pursue the “nuclear option” of eliminating the filibuster, showing no interest in negotiation. Trump’s own record of the longest shutdown in American history is almost sure to be surpassed next week, to the detriment of the American people.
President of Federal Worker Union AFGE Calls for a Clean CR
We disagree. You’ve heard it here many times before: any continuing budget resolution must include safeguards against the abuses and lawlessness of this administration.
NIH Staff Received Revised Furlough Notices… Backpay Omitted
This week, as the shutdown reached 30 days, NIH and CDC staff (maybe others) received a revised notice with two changes: the deadline of the furlough was extended, and reference to back pay and the law that governs it was deleted. Another attempt at fearmongering by Vought, another attempt to traumatize civil servants.
Shakeup at HHS
We learned that in addition to the 4,100 RIFed staff, including 1,300+ from the CDC, Vought intended to fire up to 10,000 civil servants, including ~4,550 NIH staff, which would have been 25% of the NIH workforce. The plan would have eliminated the Center for Scientific Review, which conducts peer review of all NIH grants. The DOGE holdout responsible - Rachel Riley - has been reassigned to lead the Office of Naval Research, which is also a major funder of research. Expect similar destruction there.
Court Pauses Furlough RIFs Across the Federal Government
Judge Ilston issued an injunction indefinitely pausing past, and all further, firing of federal workers during the government shutdown. The cuts were recognized to be “arbitrary” and “politically motivated.”
SNAP Benefits End November 1
Despite having a contingency fund to cover ~1 month of SNAP benefits for more than 40 million Americans, including ~16 million children, the Trump administration decided to stop them. Clearly, supporting American families is not a priority. Making America Hungry Again is. States (including Maryland) declared a state of emergency. Judge John McConnell ordered the federal government to keep SNAP funds flowing.
NOAA Retirees Continuing to Serve Without Pay
Funding cuts to NOAA have resulted in staff shortages in crews that collect data by flying over hurricanes. When Hurricane Melissa passed over the Caribbean, NOAA retirees volunteered to staff these flights and continue this important work without pay.
Please feel free to share this information with people and groups you think would be interested.
Keep up the good trouble, and stay safe out there.
In solidarity,
NIH Vigils
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., Medical Center Metro Station in front of the NIH Visitors Center.
Accessible parking is available at the Park and Ride. We recommend taking the Metro in. There is ample free parking at Grosvenor/Strathmore station one stop away.