NIH Cuts and the Christian View of Faith, Research, and the Ethics of Knowledge
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has had over 1.8 billion in research health grants removed under the Trump administration. The NIH is one of many government organizations that was audited by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was being led by inventor and entrepreneur Elon Musk. Of the NIH's 27 departments, 24 were impacted by the cuts, according to NBC News.
Partial List of DOGE Audit of NIH
The reason that President Trump created DOGE was to help eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within the American government. As a result of the audit, DOGE published a partial list back in February on X (formerly Twitter) of some of its findings in connection with the NIH:
- $1.7 million for the "China Health and Retirement Longitudinal study" at Peking University in Beijing, China
- $135 thousand for a research grant to China Medical University in Shenyang, China
- $142 thousand for "using telehealth to improve access to gender-affirming care"
- $1.3 million for "transforming health for gender-diverse young adults"
- $120 thousand for "personalized 3-D avatar tool development" focused on "gender identities"
- $400 thousand for researching "sources of minority stress and alcohol consumption" among adults who report uncertainty about their sexual orientation"
- $160 thousand for researching "radicalized sexual discrimination" among "young sexual minority men of color"
- $241 thousand for "an intervention to promote healthy relationships among transgender and gender expansive youth"
A Rasmussen poll picked up by NewsMax revealed that 86 percent of likely U.S. voters feel it's important for the federal government to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, with 66 percent saying it's very important. Only 11 percent disagreed.
Today NIH canceled grants for ~$10.9 million including:
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) March 1, 2025
-$1.7M for the “China Health and Retirement Longitudinal study” at Peking University in Beijing, China
-$135K for a research grant to China Medical University in Shenyang, China
-$142K for “using telehealth to improve access…
Trump's Promise to Work Toward Ending DEI
President Trump made a promise to the American people that he would work to bring an end to "forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' (DEI)" back when he was still on the campaign trail.
During his first 100 days in office, he issued an executive order entitled, "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing." The cuts that have taken place in the NIH are connected to his efforts to bring an end to DEI. He blames the previous administration for creating policy that made the safety of Americans and the hiring of qualified workers secondary in connection to the best interests of the American people.
God has given healthcare providers a gift for understanding all the ways in which people are fearfully and wonderfully made. He has given them an amazing ability to understand the delicate intricacies and balance necessary for experiencing a desirable quality of life, and expects that knowledge to be used with moral integrity, and in a way that's honoring to His gift of life to people. At the same time, His word is clear that when the government creates mandates or policies that go against His Word, that His people are to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
In America, we have the freedom to demand that our government representatives give an accounting of what they are doing with the resources provided to them by our tax dollars. Not only can we make phone calls and write letters to insist that Biblical mandates need to supersede government ones, but we can also use our votes.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/SOPA Images/Contributor
Originally published August 13, 2025.
