A planned executive order that would have significantly expanded White House influence over National Institutes of Health grants is likely not moving forward. This development was reported by one person familiar with the decision, who was not authorized to speak with the media, and by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Collins serves as the chair of the Appropriations Committee and had previously urged federal officials to abandon the proposal.
The controversy centered on a White House plan to create a commission composed of political appointees. This body would have included Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya. Under the proposed framework, this commission would have held veto power over individual grant awards. Collins sent a letter to Vought and Bhattacharya on Tuesday, criticizing the plan. Semafor first reported the tempering of the executive order.