The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is transferring funds to the U.S. military to study and develop drugs and other tools against nuclear threats, infectious diseases, and pandemic influenza, according to a newly disclosed document.
The agreement, released on Sept. 4, says the NIH will be sending money to the Department of War (DOW) Office of the Assistant Secretary of War “to provide acquisition services to support the advanced development of medical countermeasures against pandemic influenza, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, and emerging infectious diseases.”
The office will award contracts and grants to develop countermeasures, such as drugs and tests. The amount of money was not disclosed.
“There are many emerging health problems—such as biological, radiological, or chemical challenges—that affect both civilian and military populations. It makes sense for the NIH and DOW to share expertise and partner on research in these areas,” a spokesperson for the NIH told The Epoch Times via email.
“This partnership will only take place on a project-by-project basis, and all research will be within the scope of NIH’s mission. There is no blanket transfer of funds, and there will be no transfer of funds outside of project-by-project partnerships.”
No projects have been identified as of yet for the current fiscal year, according to the agency.
“The agreement serves as a vehicle for strategic collaboration on a project-by-project basis where our shared missions naturally overlap,” a DOW spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email. “It represents a significant step forward in protecting the American people and our warfighters.”
The military released the agreement after some lawmakers said they learned of the pact and criticized it.
Criticism
“This secretive attempt to siphon research funds away from NIH is outrageous. The interagency agreement needs to be terminated immediately,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said in a statement.
“These funds were provided for lifesaving medical research, not as extra money for the Department of Defense. It is no secret that the Department of Defense is facing enormous financial pressure because of President Trump’s war of choice with Iran. But the Trump administration cannot make American patients, families, and scientists pay the price.”
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, also voiced concern with the agreement.
“The Trump administration is now trying to rob NIH of billions of dollars that Congress provided for medical research so that it can pad the Pentagon’s budget,” Murray said in a statement.
Director, White House Respond
NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya wrote in a post on X that the agreement will not siphon money away from research.
The partnership “focuses on research projects that will drive discoveries to improve the health of American citizens and members of the military,” he said, and will be aligned with the NIH’s mission.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will lead the effort for the NIH, according to Bhattacharya. He and other top officials have said that they are shifting NIAID away from biodefense work to “address diseases and conditions that people actually have,” such as Ebola.
White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement that no NIH money is being transferred to the Department of War.
“The NIH and DoW are agreeing to cooperate on projects of mutual interest, e.g. jointly studying a disease that’s affecting servicemembers,” he wrote in a post on X.