Proposed medical research funding cuts could lead to $16 billion in economic loss and 68,000 lost jobs nationwide, according to a new map created by academic researchers.
The Science & Community Impacts Mapping Project shows a breakdown of the effects proposed National Institutes of Health funding cuts could have at a national, state and county level. It was developed by researchers from several universities, including College Park-based University of Maryland, Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania and Atlanta-based Georgia Institute of Technology, using data from NIH grants in 2024.
To model projected losses, researchers applied a multiplier effect based on a recent finding that each dollar invested by the NIH generated $2.56 in new economic activity in 2024. Job loss estimates are tied to the average number of positions supported per dollar of NIH research spending in 2024. Geographic estimates incorporate census data on where people live and work to capture spillover effects across county lines.
In February, the NIH proposed capping reimbursements for indirect research costs — such as lab space, utilities and administrative support — at 15%, down from the current average of 27% to 28%. The agency says the policy would save more than $4 billion annually, but research institutions warn it would dramatically disrupt scientific progress and limit access to clinical trials. On April 4, a federal judge issued a permanent injunction to block the policy, siding with universities and state attorneys general who argued the cuts would cause irreparable harm and violate federal law. The Trump administration plans to appeal, setting up a prolonged legal battle over the future of NIH grant funding.
Here are five states set to see the largest funding cuts and associated job losses, per the researchers’ map:
- California: $2.28 billion in funding cuts and 9,836 jobs lost
- New York: $1.77 billion in cuts and 7,645 jobs lost
- Massachusetts: $1.55 billion in cuts and 6,713 jobs lost
- Pennsylvania: $1 billion in cuts and 4,423 jobs lost
- Texas: $856 million in cuts and 3,698 jobs lost
On a more local level, more than 500 counties are estimated to lose at least $6.25 million in funding. About half of U.S. counties may see losses of at least $250,000, the map shows.
