Beyond Helplessness:

Action Steps for Higher Ed Professionals Facing NIH Cuts

HigherEd has been reeling from the Friday afternoon news dump that the NIH will be cutting funding for important research. The Trump directive was masked under economic efficiencies, “The United States should have the best medical research in the world. It is accordingly vital to ensure that as many funds as possible go towards direct scientific research costs rather than administrative overhead.” Clearly no one who has ever stepped foot on a campus or who has managed a grant had anything to do with this statement, but sure, “go off” as the kids say.

The amount of economic and workforce impact that these NIH funds provide to each state is stunning. United for Medical Research produces a report each year that outlines economic impacts by all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Based on the 2024 report “NIH research funding supported 412,041 jobs and generated $92.89 billion in economic activity in FY2023 — or $2.46 of economic activity for every $1 of research funding.” The website is eye opening, and if you are seeking to determine what your state benefits from NIH funding, they have a tool for you.

Photo by Louis Reed on Unsplash

Now, combine these cuts with the uncertainty surrounding international student visas and the existing challenges posed by state laws targeting reproductive health and LGBTQ rights. What we’re witnessing is not just a brain drain but a full-scale exodus of talent—like someone has yanked the stopper out of the medical research tub.