The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently halted the termination of grant awards, reinstating approximately $2.1 billion in grants primarily in Democratic congressional districts, compared to $62 million in Republican districts. This reinstatement predominantly benefits researchers in blue states. However, the NIH is concurrently reducing the overall number of research grants it funds for the remainder of the fiscal year, with some divisions, such as the National Cancer Institute, expected to award grants to only 4% of applicants, down from 9%. This reduction is attributed to a new policy under the Trump administration, which has also blocked the NIH from awarding any new research grants and contracts, creating tensions with lawmakers. Separately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seen internal controversies following the firing of Vinay Prasad, a prominent critic of COVID-19 policies, with allegations that pharmaceutical companies influenced his removal. Prasad's former mentor defended his dedication to evaluating treatments, while critics argue that the FDA's independence is compromised by political and industry pressures.