STAT+: Trump administration to strip job protections of top NIH officials, grants staff

STAT PlusPolitics Trump administration to strip job protections of top NIH officials, grants staff By reclassifying positions under “Schedule F,” federal workers would become politicized, easier to fire Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Anil OzaJune 3, 2026 General Assignment Reporter Anil Oza[email protected]Anil Oza is a general assignment reporter at STAT focused on the NIH and health equity. You can reach him on Signal at aniloza.16. President Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday defining thousands of positions within the civil service sector that the administration will reclassify as political appointees. Among those merit-based positions, which the White House estimates to be 8,000, are many high-level officials who oversee the review and disbursement of research grants from the National Institutes of Health. Biomedical researchers and policy experts decried the change when it was proposed, saying that by removing the protections of federal workers, they will be easier to fire.Advertisement Science officials fear the shift makes the grants process more susceptible to political whims and risks destabilizing the research enterprise, which requires predictability over longtime horizons. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In medical research, NIH, Policy, public health, scientific research Submit a correction requestReprints Anil Oza General Assignment Reporter Anil Oza is a general assignment reporter at STAT focused on the NIH and health equity. You can reach him on Signal at aniloza.16. Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended Business June 3, 2026 STAT Plus: HaloMD faces lawsuit alleging No Surprises Act middleman used ‘sham letter,’ misleading data Health June 3, 2026 STAT Plus: NIH cuts weakened network primed to respond to outbreaks like Ebola Advertisement Politics June 3, 2026 STAT Plus: Trump’s Medicaid work requirements have an unwelcome surprise for some states and patients Health June 1, 2026 STAT Plus: Trump administration releases rules for new Medicaid work requirements Health Care Inc. Newsletter June 1, 2026 STAT Plus: Medicare’s mum on GLP-1s, and Massachusetts sues United Subscriber Picks