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5mo ago

Jay Bhattacharya Confirmed as NIH Director in Party-Line Senate Vote

The Stanford professor and COVID-19 policy critic takes leadership of the NIH, pledging reforms during a period of funding cuts and operational challenges.

Jay Bhattacharya was confirmed to lead the National Institutes of Health with a 53-47 Senate vote.
Dr. Marty Makary speaks during a screening of the HBO documentary film 'Bleed Out' on December 12, 2018 in New York City.
Martin Makary prepares to testify before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearings on his nomination to be Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Commissioner, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 6, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Jay Bhattacharya, confirmed Tuesday as director of the National Institutes of Health, is shown as he prepared to testify during his confirmation hearing in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on March 5.

Overview

  • The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as Director of the National Institutes of Health in a 53-47 party-line vote on March 25, 2025.
  • Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor and co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, gained prominence criticizing COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates.
  • He has pledged to rebuild public trust in science, prioritize chronic disease research, and foster a culture of scientific dissent at the NIH.
  • The confirmation comes as the NIH faces significant challenges, including budget cuts, staff reductions, and debates over research priorities.
  • Bhattacharya will work closely with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to implement the Trump administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda.