Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Scientific Societies File Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Support of NIH Grantees

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Aug 5

ASM and fellow societies filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, calling for the swift restoration of NIH grant funding supporting early-career scientists, such as the MOSAIC program.

asm.org

Here Is All the Science at Risk in Trump’s Clash With Harvard (Gift Article)

Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Jun 23

It's not just about Harvard. "This is the science model the U.S. has developed over 80 years: The government sets the agenda and funds the work; university scientists design the studies and find the answers. The president’s willingness to upend that model has revealed its fragility."

More than 900 research grants worth $2.6 billion are in jeopardy. So is the 80-year-old model of American science.

ASM is a nonprofit professional society that publishes scientific journals and advances microbiology through advocacy, global health and diversity in STEM programs.

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Reposted by Bill Goldman

Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · May 31

How bad will it be? Catastrophic.

Proposed cuts to #NSF, #NIH, and #NASA will set the US R&D landscape back 25 yrs+, cause economic and job loss now, and undermine innovations to come.

But, this is the WH's *proposed* budget.

Speak up now before it is too late.

(inflation adjusted $-s below)

NSF, NASA and NIH budgets per year, inflation adjusted from 2000-2025 along with the proposed cuts. NSF includes research component only. Massive cuts across all sectors, well below support spanning 25 years.

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · May 15

On Capitol Hill with Mike Imperiale & @ssclabquips.bsky.social to help @asm.org educate members of Congress and their staff about biosafety, biosecurity, and sustained federal science funding. #ASMAdvocacy

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · May 2

The Presidential Budget Request has been released, and it details some serious cuts to scientific funding and research. Please use the link below to automatically send a letter to your Representative and Senators -- you can customize the pre-written message with your personal story.

Action Alerts

asm.org

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Apr 30

Trump’s Cuts to Science Funding Could Hurt U.S. Economy, Study Shows (Gift Article)

Reducing federal support for research and development could cause long-run economic damage and reduce government revenue.

Opinion | Will This Conservative Legal Doctrine Undo Trump’s First Months in Office? (Gift Article)

Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Apr 20

What goes around, comes around. And it is not likely to be good for the White House.

“Not Just Measles”: Whooping Cough Cases Are Soaring as Vaccine Rates Decline

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Apr 12

There have been over 7000 cases of whooping cough in the U.S. this year, more than double this time last year. And last year, the number of cases was nearly 17X higher than in 2021.

While much of the country is focused on the spiraling measles outbreak, experts warn that whooping cough and other preventable diseases could get much worse with falling vaccination rates and Trump’s ...

www.propublica.org

Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Apr 6

Opinion | America’s Brightest Minds Will Walk Away (Gift Article)

Young researchers are choosing between staying in science and staying in the United States.

Massive layoffs, purge of leadership underway at U.S. health agencies

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Apr 1

Late Monday emails to NIAID Director Jeanne Mazzaro and other NIH leaders "offer reassignment to a number of locations, including Alaska; Billings, Montana; the Navajo Nation; and Oklahoma, and ask leaders to respond with a preference by Wednesday at 5 p.m. Eastern."

The move comes after Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement of a sweeping reduction of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Trump promised scientific breakthroughs. Researchers say he’s breaking science.

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Mar 28

NIH funding for biomedical research has abruptly fallen by billions of dollars, with many grant decisions on hold. Trump officials say they’re reviewing the agency.

Saying ‘pandemic is over,’ NIH starts cutting COVID-19 research

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Mar 27

The chainsaw approach to virology funding: Rescinding COVID-19-related NIH grants also terminates drug discovery research targeting many other viral diseases including Ebola, Marburg, yellow fever, dengue, Zika, measles, chikungunya, and Rift Valley fever.

Grant terminations halt research on improving vaccinations and preventing future pandemics

www.science.org

What It Really Means to ‘Give Infectious Disease a Break’

Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Mar 25

The Trump administration isn’t just dismantling protections against illnesses. It’s inviting them right in.

www.theatlantic.com

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Mar 17

Doonesbury, March 16 2025

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Mar 6

As Trump Goes After Universities, Students Are Now on the Chopping Block (Gift Article)

Uncertainty about how much money colleges and universities stand to lose has led some schools to reduce the number of doctoral students, in some cases reneging on offers.

Judge issues preliminary injunction blocking Trump cuts to NIH research overhead payments

Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Mar 5

A federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from slashing NIH payments for research overhead

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Bill Goldman

Helen Lazear @lazearlab.bsky.social · Mar 5

wapo.st/4h8aiZx

NIH reels with fear, uncertainty about future of scientific research

The Trump administration’s orders have created more turmoil and damage at the National Institutes of Health than was previously known.

Inside the Collapse at the NIH

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Feb 28

Administration officials pressured the NIH to avoid clear advice from the agency’s own lawyers to restart grant funding now.

www.theatlantic.com

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Feb 23

Scientists warn of long-term damage as Trump’s orders slow research

By blocking announcements in the Federal Register, the administration is keeping experts from meeting to evaluate funding proposals.

The NIH Memo That Undercut Universities Came Directly From Trump Officials

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Feb 20

The Feb. 7 announcement of major restrictions on grant funding appeared to come from the NIH Office of the Director (grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...) -- but the document did not originate at the NIH and had not been vetted by NIH officials. Read how the NIH was suddenly forced to post this notice:

NIH officials said they were given no advance warning and less than an hour to post the memo publicly.

www.theatlantic.com

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Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Feb 15

Make America Healthy Again? Yet another assault on science and public health — thoughtless, cruel, and completely predictable

‘Wrecking ball’: RFK Jr. moves to fire thousands of health agency employees

Supervisors deliver bad news across NIH, CDC

www.science.org

Federal judge blocks Trump from slashing NIH funding in 22 states that sued

Bill Goldman @wgoldman1.bsky.social · Feb 11

Fortunately, a just-in-time temporary restraining order:

Universities filed an additional lawsuit Monday that seeks to halt the cuts nationally.