Story perspectives

Congress Defies Trump: Boosts NIH Funding Amid Cuts

2/4/2026

Center

Trump's Funding Cuts

U.S. President Donald Trump faced pushback as Congress upheld science funding, including a $415 million NIH increase for 2026.
The Trump administration proposed nearly 57% cuts to the National Science Foundation and over 40% to the NIH.
Legal challenges preserved funding, as courts rejected caps on indirect research costs.
NIH faces staffing shortages and more than 10,000 scientists have left federal positions, risking research continuity and training for new scientists.

Right

Planned Parenthood Withdraws

Planned Parenthood withdrew its lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Medicaid funding cuts after an appeals court ruling allowed withholding of funds.
Planned Parenthood argued the cuts unfairly target its clinics serving vulnerable patients.
A separate lawsuit by Democratic states challenging the cuts remains active.
Nearly half of Planned Parenthood patients rely on Medicaid, with more than 50 clinics closed in 18 states last year.

History

Historical Context

The Trump administration's proposed 57% cut to the National Science Foundation in 2017 sparked significant backlash, reflecting ongoing tensions over federal science funding. This proposal followed a history of political scrutiny of the NSF, which has seen its budget grow from $1 billion in 1983 to $8.28 billion in 2020, underscoring the critical role of scientific research in public health and national competitiveness.

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Trump's Funding Cuts

U.S. President Donald Trump faced pushback as Congress upheld science funding, including a $415 million NIH increase for 2026.
The Trump administration proposed nearly 57% cuts to the National Science Foundation and over 40% to the NIH.
Legal challenges preserved funding, as courts rejected caps on indirect research costs.
NIH faces staffing shortages and more than 10,000 scientists have left federal positions, risking research continuity and training for new scientists.

1 / 3