NIH Budget Cuts

Republican plan for budget cuts may trim NIH funding by $6 billion.
BusinessWeek (10/27, O'Connor) reported, "US House Republicans plan to try to slash $100 billion from the federal budget as early as January if they wrest power from Democrats in this year's midterm elections, setting up possible early showdowns with President Barack Obama on taxes and spending." President Obama sought "$76.4 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services," and "almost half that -- $32 billion -- is for NIH, which includes the National Cancer Institute and other research facilities." BusinessWeek said that "a 21 percent cut would slash NIH funding" by more than "$6 billion."