WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as director of the National Institutes of Health in a 53-47 vote, putting a long-time critic of COVID-19 lockdowns in charge of the country’s premier medical research agency.
Bhattacharya, a professor at Stanford University and health economist, became a national figure during the pandemic for his resistance to widespread lockdowns and mask mandates. He was a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which called for “focused protection” of the vulnerable while permitting wider societal reopening. His views made him a target of criticism from many public health officials but gained him backing from those opposed to pandemic restrictions.
As director of NIH, Bhattacharya will be in charge of a close to $50 billion per year budget for funding biomedical research nationwide. His selection arrives amidst ongoing arguments over scientific honesty and priorities in funding research.
“I am proud to be the director of the NIH and dedicated to creating a culture of open scientific inquiry,” Bhattacharya stated. “Science flourishes on the argument, and we have to make sure that scientists can pursue all avenues of discovery.”
Supporters argue Bhattacharya will introduce much-needed reform and transparency at the agency, while critics are concerned his previous stances may inform public health policy. Some researchers have expressed concerns about pandemic preparedness funding in the future under his management.
Bhattacharya will work for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was confirmed earlier this year.
The NIH, which was central to the development of COVID-19 vaccines, will likely be subject to congressional questioning about past research policies. Bhattacharya has committed to defending academic freedom and ensuring federal grants are not limited by political considerations.
