A new rule puts NIH grant reviewers at risk By Theresa Gaffney February 9, 2026 0 min Stat News Share Summary Takeaways Listen Insight Report Clinical Scorecard Quiz Poll Top Institutions 1 The Trump administration's new personnel rule reclassifies many federal employees as political appointees. 2 This rule could jeopardize the impartiality of NIH grant reviews, despite public opposition. 3 94% of public comments on the rule expressed disapproval, yet the final language remained largely unchanged. 4 The rule may further politicize NIH grant decisions, impacting research funding. 5 Concerns arise about the potential for increased political influence over scientific evaluations.
