Pentagon–NIH Interagency Agreement Sparks Congressional Pushback

The Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health have signed an interagency agreement to cooperate on chemical and biological defense research. The document, obtained by The New York Times, does not name a specific dollar amount or list individual projects, but sources familiar with the deal said it could draw as much as $2 billion from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)—roughly one-third of that institute’s budget. The partnership is framed as a collaboration on therapeutics, diagnostics and personal protective equipment for emerging infectious threats.

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NIH Director **Dr.

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She linked the move to the administration’s “enormous financial pressure” from the war in Iran and warned that funds earmarked for lifesaving medical research were being repurposed for defense spending.

New Republic

• Potential NIH funding at stake: up to $2 billion, about 33 % of NIAID’s budget.

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• Navy reported a shortfall of $6 billion–$8 billion due to higher war and personnel costs.

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• The Pentagon has asked Congress to shift $4.3 billion in previously appropriated funds to cover combat operations.

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• “The interagency agreement needs to be terminated immediately,” — Representative Rosa DeLauro, of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee

New York Times

• “This secretive attempt to siphon research funds away from NIH is outrageous,” — Representative Rosa DeLauro, of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee

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• “This secretive attempt to siphon research funds away from NIH is outrageous. The interagency agreement needs to be terminated immediately,” — Representative Rosa DeLauro, of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee

New Republic

• “It is no secret that the Department of Defense is facing enormous financial pressure because of President Trump’s war of choice with Iran,” — Representative Rosa DeLauro, of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee

New Republic