National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya responded to complaints from nearly 4,500 of his scientist employees protesting his leadership of the premier biomedical research agency. Bhattacharya responded in a social media post on X to the complaints of thousands of NIH employees who signed a petition-style complaint about problems the agency has experienced since

Sixty-six current and 23 recently-terminated staff at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with 253 anonymous colleagues, sent an open letter to Director Jay Bhattacharya today, calling on him to reverse controversial policies cutting support for research.

Senators criticized the head of the National Institutes of Health for not taking responsibility for Trump administration cuts to research funding.

Jay Bhattacharya, the the agency’s director, has made a point of welcoming dissent. A letter from his officials will test that.

In a written response shared with the AP, Bhattacharya defended the agency’s direction, insisting the letter “has some fundamental misconceptions about the policy directions the NIH has taken in recent months.” But he reiterated his commitment to dialogue: “Respectful dissent in science is productive,” he said. “We all want the NIH to succeed.”

In a scathing public letter, employees of the National Institutes of Health accused the administration of undermining the agency’s work and endangering people’s health.

In his confirmation hearings to lead the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya pledged his openness to views that might conflict with his own. That commitment is being tested.

In an open letter, researchers and staff at the National Institutes of Health raise concerns over recent policy changes.

It’s highly unusual for so many agency officials to denounce their own leadership and the White House in such a public way.