NIH begins mass termination of active grants involving LGBTQ health, gender identity, and DEI research

Nature reported that the National Institutes of Health had begun canceling active, funded research grants in areas including LGBTQ health outcomes, gender-affirming care, HIV prevention in at-risk populations, structural racism and health disparities, and DEI-focused training programs in medicine. The cancellations affected grants that had already been through competitive peer review and were in mid-execution, meaning researchers had already hired lab staff, recruited study participants, and published preliminary findings. NIH program officers reportedly received lists of keywords used to flag grants for termination review, including terms like "gender identity," "sexual minority," "health equity," and "diversity." Researchers whose grants were canceled often had no warning before the funding stopped appearing in their accounts. The sudden terminations disrupted ongoing clinical trials and forced universities to furlough or lay off research staff hired on grant funds.