President Trump asked Budget Chief Russ Vought to create an executive order establishing a board to decide on National Institutes of Health grants. The move follows a Friday Oval Office meeting in which the NIH Director refused a request to cut funding for Harvard University. The proposed board, featuring Vought and Bhattacharya, would require unanimous approval for grant awards. Other officials present during the dispute included Linda McMahon, Stephen Miller, and Mark Paoletta.

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson stated that the agency remains committed to the core mission of the NIH and that grant monies will be disbursed. The directive seeks to bring federal health research funding under direct White House control by requiring board oversight for award decisions.