Scott Delaney
@scott-delaney.bsky.social
Co-founder of Grant Witness: https://grant-witness.us
Epidemiologist. Attorney. Social, legal, and environmental determinants of health.
On Signal: sdelaney.84
Epidemiologist. Attorney. Social, legal, and environmental determinants of health.
On Signal: sdelaney.84
What's this mean for NIH-funded scientists?
It means the next time that Trump/RFK/JB want to terminate grants on topics they don't like, they'll have less trouble in court defending their actions.
It also means less certainty for scientists, less research, and more harm to US scientific leadership
It means the next time that Trump/RFK/JB want to terminate grants on topics they don't like, they'll have less trouble in court defending their actions.
It also means less certainty for scientists, less research, and more harm to US scientific leadership
November 19, 2025 at 1:35 PM
What's this mean for NIH-funded scientists?
It means the next time that Trump/RFK/JB want to terminate grants on topics they don't like, they'll have less trouble in court defending their actions.
It also means less certainty for scientists, less research, and more harm to US scientific leadership
It means the next time that Trump/RFK/JB want to terminate grants on topics they don't like, they'll have less trouble in court defending their actions.
It also means less certainty for scientists, less research, and more harm to US scientific leadership
We knew this regulation was going into effect, but we didn't yet know whether and how NIH might seek to use it.
Yesterday, we found out. NIH will indeed add specific language to new grant terms and, in doing so, it'll preserve the option to use this new power.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
2/
Yesterday, we found out. NIH will indeed add specific language to new grant terms and, in doing so, it'll preserve the option to use this new power.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
2/
November 19, 2025 at 1:35 PM
We knew this regulation was going into effect, but we didn't yet know whether and how NIH might seek to use it.
Yesterday, we found out. NIH will indeed add specific language to new grant terms and, in doing so, it'll preserve the option to use this new power.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
2/
Yesterday, we found out. NIH will indeed add specific language to new grant terms and, in doing so, it'll preserve the option to use this new power.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
2/
For 10 weeks starting in mid-July, NIH went on a tear.
They issued 23,436 grants worth $14.9 billion—5k grants & $5 billion more than the same 10 weeks in FY24.
In fiscal week 46 alone (mid-Aug), they awarded $2.1 billion in grants, nearly double their best week in FY24.
NIH staff are amazing. 🤩
They issued 23,436 grants worth $14.9 billion—5k grants & $5 billion more than the same 10 weeks in FY24.
In fiscal week 46 alone (mid-Aug), they awarded $2.1 billion in grants, nearly double their best week in FY24.
NIH staff are amazing. 🤩
October 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM
For 10 weeks starting in mid-July, NIH went on a tear.
They issued 23,436 grants worth $14.9 billion—5k grants & $5 billion more than the same 10 weeks in FY24.
In fiscal week 46 alone (mid-Aug), they awarded $2.1 billion in grants, nearly double their best week in FY24.
NIH staff are amazing. 🤩
They issued 23,436 grants worth $14.9 billion—5k grants & $5 billion more than the same 10 weeks in FY24.
In fiscal week 46 alone (mid-Aug), they awarded $2.1 billion in grants, nearly double their best week in FY24.
NIH staff are amazing. 🤩
But then something awesome happened.
The gov't took a short break for the 4th of July 🇺🇸. When NIH staff were done celebrating our nation's birthday, they returned with a vengeance.
Immediately after the 4th of July weekend, grant-making skyrocketed, even while the Trump admin continued to meddle.
The gov't took a short break for the 4th of July 🇺🇸. When NIH staff were done celebrating our nation's birthday, they returned with a vengeance.
Immediately after the 4th of July weekend, grant-making skyrocketed, even while the Trump admin continued to meddle.
October 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM
But then something awesome happened.
The gov't took a short break for the 4th of July 🇺🇸. When NIH staff were done celebrating our nation's birthday, they returned with a vengeance.
Immediately after the 4th of July weekend, grant-making skyrocketed, even while the Trump admin continued to meddle.
The gov't took a short break for the 4th of July 🇺🇸. When NIH staff were done celebrating our nation's birthday, they returned with a vengeance.
Immediately after the 4th of July weekend, grant-making skyrocketed, even while the Trump admin continued to meddle.
Josey, Delaney, et al. (2023). Air Pollution and Mortality at the Intersection of Race and Social Class. NEJM.
We show that stronger air pollution regulations benefit all Americans, and disproportionately harmed lower income and Black Americans benefit most.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
We show that stronger air pollution regulations benefit all Americans, and disproportionately harmed lower income and Black Americans benefit most.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
September 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Josey, Delaney, et al. (2023). Air Pollution and Mortality at the Intersection of Race and Social Class. NEJM.
We show that stronger air pollution regulations benefit all Americans, and disproportionately harmed lower income and Black Americans benefit most.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
We show that stronger air pollution regulations benefit all Americans, and disproportionately harmed lower income and Black Americans benefit most.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
I suppose I shouldn't fault the reporters here. It's clearly something people are wondering about.
The broader point is that the way we think about legal issues has been completely upended.
And the reason, I think, is that we're collectively just much less confident in the rule of law these days.
The broader point is that the way we think about legal issues has been completely upended.
And the reason, I think, is that we're collectively just much less confident in the rule of law these days.
September 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I suppose I shouldn't fault the reporters here. It's clearly something people are wondering about.
The broader point is that the way we think about legal issues has been completely upended.
And the reason, I think, is that we're collectively just much less confident in the rule of law these days.
The broader point is that the way we think about legal issues has been completely upended.
And the reason, I think, is that we're collectively just much less confident in the rule of law these days.
Sure, I get it. But the question wasn’t “Given SCOTUS lawlessness, should Harvard settle?” Which might be more defensible
Instead, it was “Now that Harvard won, should Harvard settle?”
Harvard won big. Trump lost big. In a normal world, we’d be asking Trump if he should settle or cave, not Harvard
Instead, it was “Now that Harvard won, should Harvard settle?”
Harvard won big. Trump lost big. In a normal world, we’d be asking Trump if he should settle or cave, not Harvard
September 5, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Sure, I get it. But the question wasn’t “Given SCOTUS lawlessness, should Harvard settle?” Which might be more defensible
Instead, it was “Now that Harvard won, should Harvard settle?”
Harvard won big. Trump lost big. In a normal world, we’d be asking Trump if he should settle or cave, not Harvard
Instead, it was “Now that Harvard won, should Harvard settle?”
Harvard won big. Trump lost big. In a normal world, we’d be asking Trump if he should settle or cave, not Harvard