Follow the Science Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7173

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-21: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-06-03T08:05:55Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Follow the Science Act" (H.R. 7173) aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to protect the scientific integrity of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by limiting the involvement of political appointees in its operations and funding decisions. It seeks to prevent the use of NIH funds for activities influenced by political motives rather than scientific merit.

Key Provisions

• Definition of Political Employee: Introduces a new term in the Public Health Service Act defining a "political employee" as individuals in high-level positions, such as those on the Executive Schedule (top executive roles), noncareer Senior Executive Service positions (high-level management roles not filled through standard hiring), Schedule C positions (confidential or policy-making roles), Schedule G (a new excepted service category), or similar policy-influencing roles. This includes anyone acting on their behalf.

• Prohibition on Employment and Participation in NIH Activities:
• Bars political employees from being employed by NIH or participating in its management and operations, except for the NIH Director, National Cancer Institute Director, and Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health Director.
• Allows limited exceptions if the political employee works for another federal agency and their involvement is legally required.
• Does not affect existing conflict-of-interest rules under other sections of the law.

• Prohibition on Involvement in Funding Decisions:
• Prevents political employees from participating in soliciting, reviewing, scoring, selecting, or awarding NIH grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, other transactions, or funding arrangements.
• Requires the NIH Director to submit a report to Congress within 30 days of enactment, detailing political employee involvement in these activities from January 20, 2021, to the enactment date.

• Restrictions on Canceling or Suspending Agreements:
• Prohibits NIH from canceling, delaying, or suspending grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other transactions without issuing written findings of specific issues like financial mismanagement (poor handling of funds), research fraud (dishonest scientific practices), debarment (barring from federal funding), or malfeasance (wrongful conduct).
• Requires notification to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions within 30 days of any such action, including the findings.
• Mandates that agreements be implemented according to their original terms and for their full specified duration, overriding certain federal regulations on early termination.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a new definition for "political employee" to the Public Health Service Act, clarifying who is restricted.
• Introduces explicit bans on political appointees' roles in NIH employment, operations, and funding processes, which were not previously codified at this level of detail.
• Imposes new procedural safeguards against arbitrary cancellation of NIH-funded projects, limiting executive discretion and requiring congressional oversight, which modifies existing federal grant management rules (e.g., under Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations).

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: NIH operations would become more insulated from political influence, potentially streamlining scientific decision-making but requiring adjustments in staffing and inter-agency coordination. Other federal agencies may face limits on their personnel's involvement in NIH activities.
• On Citizens and Researchers: Enhances trust in NIH-funded research by prioritizing evidence-based decisions, benefiting scientists, universities, and medical researchers who rely on stable funding. Could reduce disruptions to ongoing projects, accelerating public health advancements like disease research.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it may strengthen the U.S.'s global reputation for impartial science, indirectly supporting collaborations with international partners on health initiatives.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• NIH and Its Leadership: Directly restricted in hiring and operations; gains protections for scientific autonomy.
• Political Appointees and Executive Branch Officials: Limited access to NIH roles and decisions, potentially shifting influence to career civil servants.
• Researchers and Funded Organizations: Universities, nonprofits, and private entities receiving NIH grants benefit from reduced political interference and more predictable funding.
• Congress: Receives new reporting and oversight mechanisms to monitor NIH activities.
• The Public: Indirectly affected through more reliable public health research and outcomes.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens enforcement of scientific integrity by codifying prohibitions and requiring documented justifications for funding changes, which could lead to more litigation if violations occur but provides clearer compliance guidelines.
• Constitutional: May raise questions about separation of powers by curbing executive branch flexibility in appointments and funding, though it aligns with congressional authority over appropriations and agency structure.
• Political: Promotes bipartisanship in science policy by reducing partisan influence on NIH, but could spark debates over limiting presidential appointees' roles, potentially affecting future administrations' policy implementation. The bill's introduction by a diverse group of lawmakers underscores its intent to transcend party lines.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

Cosponsors (41)

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-21: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2026-01-21: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Follow the Science Act — issued 2026-01-21 — PDF (7 pages)