The former director of the National Institutes of Health on Wednesday called on patients and their families to speak up in support of the agency and its work.
Otherwise, Dr. Francis Collins warned, cuts to the agency most likely will continue under President Donald Trump’s administration. Those cuts could affect more than just employees and their families, he said.
“I am certainly deeply troubled about what we see as major changes that are being imposed upon the crown jewel of the federal government, which is what NIH is often referred to as,” said Collins.
Collins, who spoke in a press conference led by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, also referred to the agency’s successes over the past several decades. He said the number of deaths due to heart disease and cancer have dropped significantly due to the work of NIH.
Federal agencies have been slashed significantly across the board, disproportionately affecting those living in the Washington, D.C. area, where many are scrambling to realign their careers. While there are numerous active lawsuits questioning the legality of these mass layoffs, there could be more cuts in the coming weeks and months.
As for the changes within the NIH, Collins says patients – especially those undergoing clinical trials – should voice their concerns. He said the work of the NIH is crucial, and Elrich agrees.
“People who work at NIH and [the Department of Health and Human Services] in general are doing work that saves lives,” Elrich said. “They conduct groundbreaking research, develop life saving treatments and help us understand the causes of diseases.”
NIH currently employs 18,000 people in their Bethesda campus alone, according to the agency. However, the federal administration cut around 1,165 employees in February, said Collins. Collins said some of these employees have been reinstated, but added that there are talks of further cuts that could affect thousands more.
Collins said the dramatic actions of the federal government are “degrading the ability of NIH to perform the mission that I think the taxpayers expect us to do,” including making discoveries about life, disease and disease prevention.
Collins stepped down as director in 2021 after serving under three different administrations, according to his bio on the agency’s website. He said he continued to work at the agency until about three weeks ago.
Collins, who said he has lived in Montgomery County for 32 years, said that those working in and with the agency are feeling considerable “chaos and confusion.”
“If you know people in your neighborhood who work at NIH, be sympathetic with what they are going through,” Collins said. “It’s certainly a time of considerable anxiety.”