NIH's retiring top nutritionist accuses RFK-run agency of "censorship"

• Researchers have in recent months raised concerns about the impacts of the Trump administration's DOGE-driven cuts that have seen thousands of jobs slashed across top U.S. health agencies, along with spending cuts and freezes to federal grants.
• Now, health experts say the early retirement of "one of the most prominent nutrition researchers" at NIH could set back research into diet and chronic disease, per the New York Times.

What they're saying: "Unfortunately, recent events have made me question whether NIH continues to be a place where I can freely conduct unbiased science," said Hall in a statement posted to his social media accounts.

• "Specifically, I experienced censorship in the reporting of our research because of agency concerns that it did not appear to fully support preconceived narratives of my agency's leadership about ultra-processed food addiction," he said.
• "I was hoping this was an aberration. So, weeks ago I wrote to my agency's leadership expressing my concerns and requested time to discuss these issues, but I never received a response," according to Hall.

• "Without any reassurance there wouldn't be continued censorship or meddling in our research, I felt compelled to accept early retirement to preserve health insurance for my family. (Resigning later in protest of any future meddling or censorship would result in losing that benefit.)," he added.
• Representatives for the NIH did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.

What we're watching: Hall said he hoped "to someday return to government service and lead a research program that will continue to provide gold-standard science to make Americans healthy."

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