Trump Admin Cuts NIH DEI Budget By 80%, Saving $169M

The National Institutes of Health has slashed funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused projects by 80%, saving taxpayers $168.7 million in the first six months of the Trump administration, according to an exclusive Do No Harm study shared with Newsmax.

Dr. Kurt Miceli, medical director at Do No Harm hailed the cuts as a “turning point” that prioritizes “merit and scholarship over ideology,” redirecting resources toward high-impact biomedical research.

This shift marks a significant reform in how federal research dollars are allocated, Miceli told Newsmax. “Taxpaying Americans’ hard-earned dollars should not be wasted on programs steeped in identity politics. The administration knows this, which is why they’ve taken decisive action.”

The study by Do No Harm, an advocacy coalition of medical professionals, revealed that from Jan. 20 to July 20, the NIH funded 93 DEI-focused projects totaling $41.4 million — a 71% drop in grants and an 80 percent reduction in funding compared to the 321 projects worth $210 million during the same period in 2024 under the Biden administration.

The reduction reflects a broader push to prioritize scientific merit and fiscal responsibility, aligning with Miceli’s call for “strengthening the integrity and scientific rigor of America’s healthcare system,” and he gave credit to NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya as well as Trump.

Under the Biden administration, NIH DEI funding surged by 125% percent while averaging $316 million annually for a total expenditure of $1.26 billion during his presidency.