NIH Vigils Newsletter 11/23/2025
Updates for the Week of November 22
We All stand with Dr. Jenna Norton
Democratic leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are demanding an immediate briefing from HHS and NIH leadership following the illegal placement of Dr. Jenna Norton, NIH employee and Bethesda Declaration co-organizer, on "non-disciplinary" administrative leave in violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act and the First Amendment. They consider it a blatant move to instill fear and silence federal workers who speak out. We will not be silenced.
NIAID Division Director Pushed Out
We learned yesterday that the head of NIAID’s Division of AIDS has been reassigned to the Fogarty International Center, a small NIH Center that the administration plans on eliminating. This is one more act of retribution against Tony Fauci’s former institute and colleagues. As with all vacant director positions, we fear a political loyalist will be installed.
74,000 Patient Lives Disrupted by NIH Cuts
A study was released showing that the termination of 383 active NIH clinical trials impacted more than 74,000 participants. These cancellations violated ethical principles of informed consent and jeopardized patient safety by cutting off follow-up care and monitoring for adverse effects. The terminations have caused immense waste, denying participants hope and potential cures. The study is an underestimate of impacts, as it did not address impacts of delays caused by clinical trials that were stalled and restarted.
RFK, Jr.: Lies, Damned Lies, and Pure Fabrication
The HHS Secretary personally instructed CDC to change its public-facing website to say that the statement “vaccines do not cause autism” is not evidence-based. The website continues to mislead the public about vaccines. RFK, Jr. continues to need to be impeached.
FEMA Signer of the Katrina Declaration Fired
Signers of FEMA’s dissent letter, the Katrina Declaration, were put on retaliatory administrative leave months ago. Now, one has been fired. The rest are waiting for news of their fate and are prepared to fight.
Whistleblower Safeguards on the Way Out?
The Trump administration is advancing a rule that would eliminate legal protections for senior career federal employees who act as whistleblowers. This will stifle the reporting of waste, fraud, and abuse and impede accountability. Schedule F, back in the news, proposes to further erode those protections for additional public servants.
House Forces Vote to Restore Federal Union Rights
A bipartisan coalition in the House forced a floor vote on the Protect America's Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights for more than one million unionized federal employees. This unusual procedural victory underscores a fundamental truth: unions are vital for democracy by ensuring workers have collective power to negotiate better wages and conditions.
Fired EPA Employees to Return to Work
In a stunning reversal, the EPA ordered approximately 170 probationary employees who were illegally fired months ago to report back to work on December 8. Just more evidence that this administration doesn’t know what it’s doing.
Fundraiser for 27 uNIHted
Join us in a fundraising event for 27 uNIHted on December 12, 2025, 7-11 p.m. at Chacho Bar & Distillery. Live music from Allstrike, The Laterals, and Ammonite. Please note that the event is on the second floor but there is no elevator. You can bring your own food, and there is parking.
Please feel free to share this newsletter 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.