Many Director Positions Open at National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest public funder of biomedical research, is facing a leadership crisis with 16 out of 27 director positions vacant, primarily due to departures during President Trump’s second term. This situation allows the administration an opportunity to influence the agency’s direction, raising concerns among staff about potential politicization of appointments. Despite recent court rulings and congressional support for funding, there is unease regarding the agency’s future. The turmoil mirrors similar upheavals at the CDC under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., further heightening anxiety within NIH ranks.