More than half of the National Institutes of Health’s 27 institutes and centers are now led by acting directors, the agency confirmed in reporting by STAT News this week — a leadership vacuum unprecedented in recent NIH history.
NIH leadership turnover has been concentrated since the start of the Trump administration’s second term, with several permanent directors stepping down and the White House moving slowly to nominate replacements. The acting head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — historically one of the agency’s most visible roles — was reported to have stepped down as well.
The bottleneck has downstream effects on the U.S. biomedical research enterprise. Permanent directors typically set institute strategic plans, ratify large grant decisions, and represent NIH to Congress and international scientific bodies. Acting leadership tends to defer major policy moves.
Several NIH-funded researchers told STAT they have seen grant award timelines lengthen and program announcements delayed since the leadership transitions began.
Sources: STAT News, May 20, 2026
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