The terminations have focused particularly on research related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; LGBTQ+ health; and gender identity.
Impact on Universities and Research Institutions
The grant terminations have affected approximately 220 organizations nationwide, with about 40% located in states that voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election. At least 94 public universities have had grants terminated, including flagship state schools in Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Nebraska, and Texas.
Dr. Davey Smith of UC San Diego Health, who specializes in infectious diseases, reported: “There’s quite a few cuts that have already happened to myself and a few of my colleagues.” He told ABC 10News that about 16 clinical trials, including his own for a new HIV vaccine, have been put on pause, amounting to roughly $2.5 million in annual NIH grant funding.
His colleague, Dr. Susan Little, who also specializes in infectious diseases, received notice that her HIV-prevention drug study was terminated. She quoted directly from the termination notice: “Research programs based on gender identity are often unscientific, have little identifiable return-on-investment and do nothing to help the advancement of many Americans.” Little responded firmly: “None of that is true”.
At the University of Texas at Austin, several professors have faced similar disruptions. Jason McLellan, known for groundbreaking work on COVID-19 vaccine development, had an NIH grant for antiviral drug development canceled on March 24. “All research and spending had to cease that day,” McLellan said. “This leaves several projects stranded and jeopardizes the further development of the exciting compounds that our consortium developed”.
Local and Regional Consequences
The cuts have created immediate effects for state and local health departments across the country, often disrupting essential public health services with little warning.
State Health Department Impacts
Ohio is facing particularly severe cuts, with the Ohio Department of Health losing over $250 million in grant funding. Similarly, the Louisiana Department of Health has had over $55 million in grants abruptly slashed according to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website run by Elon Musk.
Karen Stubbs, an assistant secretary at the Louisiana health department, told lawmakers that her office received news of the cuts at around 5 p.m. on a Monday “in a series of emails that were slightly difficult to interpret.” She indicated that HHS appeared to end six federal grants, three for mental health and three for substance use.
Local Health Department Disruptions
In Cleveland, local health officials were caught off-guard by the sudden funding terminations. “March 24, we received an email that a number of grants across local health departments across Ohio were ending on March 24,” said David Margolius, director of public health for the City of Cleveland. “It’s just putting everybody in a tough position to not know if they’re going to get a letter any given day that cuts their salary and it puts them out of work”.