Ex-NIH chief says he was "not allowed to speak" under Trump administration
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Former NIH chief Francis Collins being interviewed on CBS News' "60 Minutes." Photo: CBS News/ "60 Minutes"
Former National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins said in an interview broadcast Sunday he retired last month because his position became "untenable" under the second Trump administration's actions.
Why it matters: The noted geneticist's departure occurred after DOGE-driven cuts were announced for research funding and probationary workers' contracts were terminated, and Collins told CBS News that he and other scientists were "not allowed to speak — in any kind of scientific meeting or public setting."
Driving the news: Collins said during his "60 Minutes" interview that "almost immediately" after President Trump's inauguration "there were statements made that you were not allowed, for instance, to start any new projects."
- He added: "The ability to order supplies was cut off. Eventually, it was started back up again. But then, they put a $1 limit on what you could order. There's not much you can order for $1."
Zoom in: During his interview, Collins addressed reports of a budget draft proposal that requires congressional approval to shrink the NIH's budget by over 40% and reduce the 27 institutes and centers into eight, axing four — including the Institutes on Nursing Research and Minority Health.
- Collins told CBS' Sharyn Alfonsi that over 80% of the budget goes to universities and institutes across the U.S.
- "They're the ones that do the work, but they get the funds from NIH by writing very compelling grant applications that go through the most rigorous peer review system in the world," he said.
- "Every dollar that NIH gave out in 2024 to a grant is estimated to have returned $2.46 just in a year. That's a pretty darn good return on investment."
- Asked if he would have been in "a better position to fight" for scientists and their work if he had not retired, Collins said: "I don't think it would've helped. I would've been pretty much in a circumstance of not being able to speak about it."
The other side: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said the overhaul of health agencies will save taxpayers $1.8 billion and reduce mismanagement and duplicative functions.
- NIH director Jay Bhattacharya said during his Senate confirmation hearing last month he planned to "carry out President Trump and Secretary Kennedy's agenda of committing the NIH to address the dire chronic health needs of the country with gold standard science and innovation."
- He also said he would "establish a culture of respect for free speech in science and scientific dissent at the NIH."
- Representatives for the NIH did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.
Go deeper: A closer look at the nationwide impact of NIH cuts
