NIH director answers questions at first staff town hall
Jayanta "Jay" Bhattacharya, the new director of the National Institutes of Health, held his first staff town hall Wednesday, facing a packed auditorium and fielding challenging questions on topics ranging from transparency regarding Trump administration decisions to research on gender.
Bhattacharya also sought to reassure employees about concerns over recent layoffs, asserting he shares their apprehension and is working to stabilize NIH operations. The event, held on the NIH's main campus, drew nearly 500 in-person attendees and many more online, reflecting the significant recent upheaval at the agency.
Since the Trump administration took office in January, the NIH has seen significant staff reductions, with about 2,500 of its 20,000 employees laid off and hundreds more departing through retirement or other means.