NIH Puts Universities on Notice: End DEI Programs or Lose Grant Funding

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a notice Monday, updating the conditions of its grant awards to make clear that universities and other research institutions who engage in discriminatory practices will lose out on grant funding.

“NIH reserves the right to terminate financial assistance awards and recover all funds if recipients, during the term of this award, operate any program in violation of Federal anti-discriminatory laws or engage in a prohibited boycott,” the notice reads.

“Prohibited boycott” in this context refers to boycotts of Israeli companies or companies doing business with Israel. 

Additionally, the conditions ensure that recipients do not and will not operate DEI programs that violate federal law.

“By accepting the grant award, recipients are certifying that: […] They do not, and will not during the term of this financial assistance award, operate any programs that advance or promote DEI, DEIA, or discriminatory equity ideology in violation of Federal anti-discrimination laws; and [they] do not engage in and will not during the term of this award engage in a discriminatory prohibited boycott,” the terms read.

This is a crucial step toward ridding medical education of the pernicious and pervasive ideology of DEI. 

As Do No Harm has repeatedly documented, the NIH’s use of DEI requirements in grant funding prior to the Trump administration was a chief contributor to DEI and racial discrimination in the medical field.

For instance, the NIH previously had in place its Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) requirement that mandated applicants for certain grants include a document outlining how their research will advance diversity and inclusivity, e.g. through including researchers from “historically underrepresented” backgrounds.

Additionally, numerous grant programs at medical schools that are backed by the NIH blatantly discriminate against applicants on the basis of race.

The notice also follows on the heels of President Trump’s executive order earlier this year directing federal agencies to eliminate DEI language and discriminatory practices in the federal contracting and grantmaking process.

Divisive and discriminatory practices, policies, and ideologies have no place in the medical field. This action is essential for restoring the values of excellence and merit in medical education.