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H.R. 7173119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Jan 21, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 7173 would bar most political appointees from NIH grant and contract decisions, with limited exceptions for agency heads.
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HR 7173 would prohibit most political employees from working at or influencing the National Institutes of Health, and would bar them from any role in reviewing grant applications or awarding contracts. Exceptions exist only for the NIH director and heads of two specific sub-agencies. The bill would also restrict NIH from canceling or pausing funded projects unless written proof of financial mismanagement, research fraud, or misconduct is provided.
The bill directly affects NIH as an institution, political appointees in the executive branch, and researchers and universities that receive NIH funding. Patients and the general public who rely on federally funded medical research could also be indirectly affected.
Removing political appointees from funding decisions could change how grant and contract awards are made and reviewed at NIH. Restricting NIH's ability to cancel or suspend grants without documented cause could affect the agency's flexibility in managing its research portfolio.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.