NIH Loses 20 Percent of Workforce Under Trump Purges

The National Institutes of Health has lost approximately 4,400 employees, representing more than 20% of its workforce, during President Donald Trump's second term. Federal data indicates the workforce has dropped to about 17,100, the lowest level in at least two decades.

Departing scientists attribute the exodus to a campaign to purge workers perceived as disloyal, hiring freezes, and an August executive order prohibiting grants for "anti-American values." This order allows political appointees to review funding decisions, effectively canceling research on topics the administration deems off-limits, including diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Former employees describe the environment as a "fundamental destruction" of the agency's public mission, arguing that the loss of specialized personnel harms the U.S. ability to respond to disease outbreaks.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services defended the reductions as a necessary "major reset" to prioritize evidence-based research over "ideological agendas." Department officials stated the goal is to streamline operations and return to pre-pandemic employment levels. Simultaneously, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shifted agency priorities, designating the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease as a primary focus.