According to STAT, several members of Congress have voiced strong opposition to a reported plan that would create a commission of political appointees to review NIH grants. The plan, as described, would give this panel the authority to sign off on grant decisions, a process traditionally handled by scientific peer reviewers.
The lawmakers' pushback suggests significant unease with the idea of political appointees having a direct role in deciding which research receives federal funding. While the report does not specify the exact arguments made by the members, their opposition signals a defense of the current, science-driven review process.
At this stage, the plan remains a reported proposal, and no formal action has been detailed. The source, STAT, indicates that the opposition is strong, but it does not provide further details on the commission's proposed structure or which members of Congress are involved.