Democrats allege Pentagon is diverting NIH research money to fund Iran war costs

Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee revealed that the Department of Defense has entered an interagency agreement allowing it to access billions of dollars originally allocated to the National Institutes of Health for critical biomedical research. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the committee’s ranking member, said the deal was made without informing Congress and called for its immediate termination. She argued that the funds, intended for work on diseases such as influenza, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and Ebola, should not be used to cover Pentagon shortfalls caused by President Donald Trump’s war with Iran.

The defense budget strain has already forced delays in base repairs and cuts to training, while Secretary Pete Hegseth seeks a $67 billion supplemental request that remains unapproved. The House recently passed a stopgap measure funding essential security programs through December 11, but the alleged NIH money diversion highlights the Pentagon’s desperation for cash. Analysts note that the issue will likely be pursued aggressively by Democrats if they take the House majority in the next Congress.