Federal research on health disparities comes to a halt

Following a series of executive orders prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion policies at every level of the federal government, the National Institutes of Health this year began terminating initiatives aimed at narrowing the health gaps between racial and socioeconomic groups (Source: “Trump Administration Scraps Research Into Health Disparities,” New York Times, Aug. 13).
 
The federal government has for decades invested vigorously in research aimed at narrowing the health gaps between racial and socioeconomic groups, pouring billions of dollars into understanding why minority and low-income Americans have shorter lives and suffer higher rates of illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
 
Spending on health disparities research rose even during the Trump administration’s first term. But in its second, much of the funding has come to a sudden halt.
 
“Spending billions on divisive, politically driven DEI initiatives that don’t deliver results is not just bad health policy — it’s bad government,” said a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services who declined to be identified.
 
The NIH will invest in projects that support “all vulnerable populations,” and expand participation “based on clinical need — not identity,” the spokeswoman said.