1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

Scientific research is the bedrock of innovation and progress across numerous fields, from medicine and public health to technology and energy. The concerning developments unfolding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) threaten to disrupt and impede vital scientific inquiry that could lead to groundbreaking discoveries and life-saving advancements. The reported chaos, with rapidly changing rules, lack of clarity on funding and resources, and arbitrary termination of hundreds of research grants, is deeply troubling. This upheaval risks derailing long-term research programs that require stability and continuity to yield meaningful results. Canceling careers of promising researchers and graduate students pursuing STEM fields will deprive us of the next generation of brilliant minds driving scientific breakthroughs. Scientific endeavors should be governed by rigorous peer review processes and evidence-based assessments, not political whims or ideological motivations. Burning down the foundation of medical science at the world's leading public funder of biomedical research is an unacceptable dereliction that will undermine American leadership in innovation and jeopardize public well-being. I urge you to take immediate action to protect the integrity of scientific research at the NIH. Ensure that grant funding decisions are made through established, transparent protocols based solely on scientific merit. Restore stability and certainty to the research ecosystem, allowing scientists to focus on their vital work without disruptive interference. The long-term consequences of decimating America's scientific enterprise will be catastrophic for public health, economic competitiveness, and technological progress. Strong leadership is needed to safeguard this national imperative.