NIH staff revolt, new analysis affirm the critical role and vulnerability of US academic science

Editor's Note

Several hundred National Institutes of Health (NIH) employees have issued a rare internal rebuke of the agency’s current leadership under Director Jay Bhattacharya, STAT June 9 reports. The open letter, dubbed the “Bethesda Declaration,” criticizes abrupt Trump-era policy changes, including the cancellation of health equity and LGBTQ+ research, cuts to indirect cost funding, and mass layoffs.

Signed by 336 NIH employees—258 of whom are currently employed—the letter warns that recent political interference is undermining the agency’s mission and destabilizing morale. Organizers, inspired by Bhattacharya’s own earlier “Great Barrington Declaration,” hope to initiate dialogue and safeguard scientific integrity. High-profile figures, including 19 Nobel laureates and former NIH leaders, have signed a companion letter of support. In response, Bhattacharya defended recent reforms but acknowledged the value of “respectful dissent.”

The article details how the speed and scope of the changes—some driven by executive orders—left employees fearful and uncertain. Several leaders were reportedly pushed out under the guise of “resignations,” while remaining staff describe a chilling effect on open discourse. Jenna Norton, a program officer who helped draft the letter, said the effort emerged from growing solidarity among demoralized staff. Though the impact of the declaration remains to be seen, some signers expressed fear of retaliation, highlighting how precarious the agency’s internal culture has become.

Pharmaceutical integrity and innovation is another area shaken up by funding cuts and sweeping federal reform. In an analysis published on June 6, STAT presents research quantifying US universities’ foundational role in pharmaceutical innovation. From 2020 to 2024, academic institutions were responsible for patents underpinning 50% of all FDA-approved drugs, with 87% of those coming from US universities. The study, led by Stony Brook University researchers, highlights the increasing dependence of pharmaceutical companies on academic science. This elevates the urgency of preserving public research funding, especially as NIH budgets are being targeted for cuts.

The findings also warn that if US investment in academic R&D falters, global leadership in drug development could shift abroad, particularly to nations like China that are aggressively scaling up research capacity. The authors argue that continued federal support for academic science is not only essential for healthcare innovation, but also for national and economic security.