Congress proposes historic NIH budget cuts amid transparency concerns and ongoing investigations

The U.S. House Committee on Appropriations held a hearing on November 20, 2024, focusing on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its budget amid rising national debt, which has now surpassed $36 trillion. The committee is proposing significant budget reductions for NIH as part of broader efforts to improve fiscal responsibility.

During the meeting, concerns were raised about NIH's transparency and accountability. Doctor Bergtagnoli highlighted a troubling history regarding the agency's handling of records. In July 2021, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) investigated the unauthorized disposal of Health and Human Services (HHS) records. More recently, on July 10, 2023, an investigation was initiated into NIH officials for using personal email accounts for official business. NARA's inspector general is currently looking into similar issues within NIH, raising alarms about the agency's compliance with federal record-keeping laws.

The committee emphasized the need for NIH to operate more efficiently and to address these transparency concerns as part of its ongoing budget discussions. The proposed reductions reflect a commitment to fiscal discipline while urging NIH to enhance its accountability practices.