National Institutes of Health

What is circulating

“Speaking at George Washington University on 17 November 2025, Kennedy said: "We're not cutting science. We're not cutting research."”

Claimed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary · official statement

The facts

PolitiFact rated the claim Pants on Fire. A JAMA Internal Medicine letter found 383 NIH supported clinical trials, involving more than 74,000 participants, lost funding between February and August 2025, and Grant Witness counted more than 4,400 NIH grants stopped. About 52 percent of terminated grants had been restored by 19 November, leaving roughly 2,500 terminated or frozen, and HHS also cancelled nearly $500 million in mRNA projects.

Fact check: PolitiFact

What is circulating

“Speaking to reporters on 24 September 2025, Jeffries said: "Republicans have effectively ended medical research in the United States of America."”

Claimed by Hakeem Jeffries · official statement

The facts

PolitiFact rated the claim Mostly False. Trump's budget proposed cutting National Institutes of Health funding from about $45 billion to about $27 billion, roughly 39 percent, and the administration terminated grants worth about $5 billion. But NIH would still receive more than $27 billion under that plan, and House and Senate appropriators voted for modest increases instead.

Fact check: PolitiFact