National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya told the House Appropriations Committee this week that the agency will distribute all 48.7 billion dollars in fiscal year 2026 funding before the September 30 deadline, despite significant delays in grant awards. The assurance comes as NIH lags far behind its usual pace: as of March 3, the agency had issued 74% fewer competitive awards than the average for the same period in fiscal years 2021–2024, with total funding 62% below prior year levels, according to a Johns Hopkins analysis of NIH RePORTER data. Most awards so far have been renewals of existing multiyear projects rather than new proposals. The delays stem from multiple factors. The White House Office of Management and Budget released NIH’s apportionments only this week, nearly halfway through the fiscal year, following pressure from the committee. Reduced NIH staffing levels and shifts in funding strategy may also be contributing. The agency’s workforce has declined to approximately 17,100, its lowest in at least two decades, with 16 of 27 centers and institutes currently without permanent directors. Scientists who left cited administrative disruptions, including delayed access to research equipment, terminated funding for certain topics, and restricted travel authorizations, even for research aligned with stated priorities. Lawmakers from both parties pressed Bhattacharya on the hiring timeline for senior leadership. He reported interviewing two to four candidates weekly and expects to begin announcing appointments this month, emphasizing that selections will be based on scientific leadership rather than political considerations. The committee also raised concerns about Bhattacharya’s concurrent role as acting CDC director, given the demands of leading both agencies. While he pledged to ensure a functional CDC, the Trump administration has not yet nominated a permanent director, limiting the window for confirmation before the election. Congress rejected the White House’s proposed 40% budget cut for NIH, instead approving a slight increase for fiscal year 2026. However, the funding delays and staffing gaps underscore broader tensions between institutional stability and political priorities. As NIH works to accelerate grant distribution, the long term impact on research continuity and investigator confidence remains a pressing question for the academic community. American Institute of Physics