Press Releases

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), André Carson (IN-07), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) led a bipartisan letter along with 31 of their colleagues urging Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to fill vacant positions on National Institutes of Health (NIH) advisory councils, which are essential for approving billions in medical research funding. The failure to appoint new members to these councils could stall the final approval of research grants and delay critical medical research.

“These advisory councils play a critical role in funding medical research, serving as the final arbiter after NIH study sections review grant applications. The current understaffing of NIH advisory councils will imperil medical research and harm the health of Americans for generations,” the lawmakers wrote to Kennedy.

Secretary Kennedy is required by law to appoint members to the NIH advisory councils. In 2025, HHS rescinded the nominations of candidates who had been successfully vetted in 2023 and 2024. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, only one vacancy across 24 NIH advisory councils has been filled.

When understaffed, NIH advisory councils are unable to approve grants for lifesaving medical research, directly harming the health of the American people. During the largest measles epidemic in 25 years, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases advisory council is staffed at only 33 percent capacity.

“Leaving these pivotal research institute advisory councils understaffed will severely disrupt medical research, harming millions of Americans and imperiling our economy and global standing. We implore you to immediately return the vetted nominees to their research institutes,” the lawmakers continued.

In 2026, many advisory council members’ terms are set to expire, exacerbating understaffing and leaving critical NIH research centers without any advisory council members. Critical research on heart disease, neurological disorders, infectious diseases, and mental health will be directly impacted.

“These advisory council members play a crucial role in allocating billions of dollars of funding for medical research, improving the country’s health and serving as a core driver of economic growth in many states. To continue to be a world leader in biomedical innovation, we need these critical scientists and public policy collaborators,” the lawmakers added.

The full letter can be found here.