ADVERTISEMENTs
Senate committee advances Bhattacharya’s NIH nomination
The committee approved Bhattacharya’s nomination in a 12-11 vote, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed
Jay Bhattacharya / senate.gov
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted along party lines on March 13 to advance Jay Bhattacharya’s nomination as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), moving him closer to confirmation by the full Senate.
If confirmed, Bhattacharya, a Stanford University health economist and physician, would lead the NIH, which oversees nearly $48 billion in biomedical research funding annually.
Also Read: “American health is going backwards," Bhattacharya at Senate confirmation
Bhattacharya is expected to work closely with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on public health policy reforms. A vocal critic of COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates, Bhattacharya has advocated for a decentralized approach to public health decision-making.
During his confirmation hearing, Bhattacharya pledged to strengthen research integrity at the NIH, citing concerns over the reliability of federally funded studies. He pointed to a recent Alzheimer’s research scandal, where faulty data influenced hundreds of studies. "If the data generated by scientists is not reliable, the products of such science cannot help anyone," he said, arguing that weak research standards have hindered progress in treating major diseases.
If confirmed, Bhattacharya said he would prioritize tackling chronic illnesses, stating, "I will 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." His remarks reflect his broader stance that public health agencies should focus on long-term disease prevention rather than emergency responses.
At the hearing, senators questioned him on vaccine research, drug pricing, and recent funding cuts to federal health agencies. He was also asked about the Trump administration’s 15 percent cap on facilities and administrative costs for NIH research grants. While he did not explicitly oppose the cap, he stated he would “follow the law” and assess its impact.
Bhattacharya is a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, a controversial 2020 document advocating for focused protection of vulnerable populations while allowing natural immunity to develop among lower-risk individuals. The declaration was criticized by public health officials, including Anthony Fauci and the World Health Organization, who argued that it underestimated the risks of uncontrolled viral spread.
His nomination now heads to the full Senate, where he is expected to face an easy confirmation vote given the republican majority.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
_(cropped)-1.jpg)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login