Lobbying organizations for the biomedical community are preparing to sue the government to halt what they claim is a violation of the wishes of Congress and of the appropriate procedure to achieve such spending reductions.
The administration, believing Congress was overly generous to NIH, wants to transfer to next year's budget $334 million of the $6.2 billion appropriated for the current fiscal year (see The Scientist, January 26, 1987). The shift in funds would be achieved by awarding 700 fewer new and competing grants and by trimming $218 million from the grants that are awarded or renewed.
Deputy Director William Raub said that NIH had to begin reducing grants awards in January "to ensure the $334 million would be available to be extended" should Congress approve the plan. Waiting until the summer for Congressional approval might force the NIH to make more drastic cuts—up to "30 to 40 percent," Raub ...
