FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Doctors for America
PO Box: 21161
2300 18th St NW Lbby
Washington, DC 20009-9996
March 5, 2025
Doctors for America’s FDA Task Force Statement on NIH Nomination Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Doctors for America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Task Force closely monitored today’s Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing to consider Dr. Jay Bhattacharya’s nomination to serve as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The recent NIH funding freezes have left critical grants and research in limbo, delaying vital clinical trials and scientific advancements. The next Director of NIH should be willing to commit on the record that he will ensure that NIH programs and grants that have already been appropriated by Congress will continue to be operationalized.
Dr. Bhattacharya’s answers to questions on vaccines lacked the clarity expected of the head of the HHS. He did state that his “inclination is to give people good data” and that more research is needed. We agree with Senator Cassidy that this is settled science and that “the more that we pretend like this is an issue, the more we will have children dying from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Additionally, Dr. Bhattacharya’s answers to questions about a potential agency reorganization were insufficient. In recent weeks, we’ve seen the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) attempt to implement overhauls and reforms at other agencies, only to leave agency leadership, federal workers, and the American people confused and unclear about which federal programs are being implemented. We are concerned that Dr. Bhattachraya’s indifference to such drastic reforms will result in the dissolution of essential research and longstanding scientific programs.
DFA’s FDA Task Force urges the Senate HELP Committee to seek further clarification from Dr. Bhattacharya on these issues before voting on whether or not to move his nomination forward.
For press inquiries and to speak more on this issue with members of the Doctors for America FDA Task Force please contact Alli Everton with Continuum Health Group ([email protected]).
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About Doctors for America:
Doctors for America mobilizes doctors and medical students to be leaders in putting patients over politics to improve the health of our patients, communities, and nation. DFA is an organization of over 27,000 physician and medical student advocates in all 50 states, representing all areas of specialization. DFA teaches physicians and medical students advocacy skills and does advocacy at a state and federal level. Our impact areas focus on access to affordable care, community health and prevention, and health justice and equity. DFA focuses solely on what is best for our patients, not on the business side of medicine, and does not accept any funding from pharmaceutical or medical device companies, which uniquely positions DFA as the organization that puts patients over politics and patients over profits. Find out more at doctorsforamerica.org and on Twitter drsforamerica or Bluesky drsforamerica.bsky.social.