NIH Scientists Rise Against Trump Administration Policies

The recent uprising at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) marks an unprecedented moment of internal resistance against Trump administration policies. Over 300 NIH scientists have taken the extraordinary step of publicly dissenting against what they characterize as politically motivated decisions undermining public health.

The Bethesda Declaration

In a bold move that echoes through the scientific community, more than 300 NIH scientists have signed what’s being called the “Bethesda Declaration” – an open letter directly challenging the Trump administration’s approach to public health research and funding. This protest includes 92 scientists who signed with their full names, alongside 250 anonymous but verified signatories who fear potential repercussions.

The letter was addressed to NIH director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and released on Monday, June 9, 2025, just one day before Bhattacharya is scheduled to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding the proposed NIH budget.

Core Concerns

The scientists outline several specific grievances in their declaration:

Politicization of scientific research
Disruption of global scientific collaboration
Budget cuts that hinder critical research
Staff reductions impacting the agency’s core mission

In their own words, the scientists state: “We dissent to Administration policies that undermine the NIH mission, waste public resources, and harm the health of Americans and people across the globe.” This extraordinary statement reflects deep concern that political considerations have superseded public health priorities.

A Last Resort

Speaking to ABC News, several signatories emphasized that this public declaration came only after numerous failed attempts to address concerns through internal channels. Jenna Norton, a program officer at the NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases who helped organize the letter, expressed both fear and determination: “There is a lot of risk to speaking up, and I am very scared still, even after it’s already done, even after it’s already said.”

Norton further highlighted the moral imperative driving their actions: “I think a lot of people are focused on the risk of speaking up, but we also need to think about the risk of not speaking up.”

Funding Concerns

One particularly troubling aspect raised in the declaration involves funding slowdowns. According to Science Magazine, significant portions of NIH’s 2025 budget may go unspent. This disruption in research funding threatens ongoing projects and could have lasting impacts on public health initiatives nationwide.

The declaration appears to have drawn inspiration from the controversial Great Barrington Declaration, though in opposition to its principles. While the Great Barrington Declaration advocated for certain controversial COVID-19 management approaches, the Bethesda Declaration stands in defense of established scientific processes and evidence-based public health measures.

Recent Firings and Cancellations

The letter specifically addresses recent firings and grant cancellations that have sparked outrage in the scientific community. These personnel and funding decisions are characterized as politically motivated rather than based on scientific merit. The signatories are calling for:

Reinstatement of fired staff
Restoration of cancelled funding
Return to science-based decision making

A Message of Hope

Despite the gravity of their concerns, the organizers emphasize that their declaration is fundamentally an act of hope. One signatory told ABC News: “It is us standing up and showing that not everything is lost, and certainly there’s been irreparable damage, but we still have time to right the ship and take it in the right direction.”

This sentiment reflects a belief in the resilience of scientific institutions and a determination to preserve the integrity of public health research despite political pressures. The scientist added: “I need to leave people with that message of hope because, otherwise, they can feel there’s nothing that they can do, and that we’re powerless, but we are all powerful.”

Wider Context

The Bethesda Declaration represents one of the most significant internal protests from within a federal scientific agency during the current administration. Its timing – just before Director Bhattacharya’s Senate testimony on budget matters – appears strategically calculated to bring maximum attention to the scientists’ concerns.

The declaration has already garnered substantial media coverage, with reports appearing on major news outlets and social platforms. As this story continues to develop, the scientific community and public health advocates are watching closely to see how the administration will respond to this unprecedented challenge from within one of its most important health institutions.

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