Following recent midterm elections, two newly elected Democratic lawmakers are positioning themselves to challenge the Trump administration’s policies targeting health equity and diversity programs. Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist with a background in health disparities research, and incoming Representative Jasmine Clark of Georgia, a microbiologist who will be the first Black woman with a STEM Ph.D. in Congress, have both indicated intentions to defend these initiatives.
During the past two years, the Trump administration has terminated hundreds of grants designed to address medical inequities, shut down programs aimed at diversifying the scientific workforce, and launched investigations into universities and medical schools regarding admissions practices. Despite these actions, there was minimal congressional opposition. Both El-Sayed and Clark have described personal experience with how diversity and inclusion programs have benefited students and researchers pursuing scientific careers.
The path forward for defending health equity faces significant obstacles, as President Trump retains veto power and Democrats must navigate competing priorities. Nevertheless, the presence of lawmakers with direct research experience in these areas could provide institutional counterweight to current policies. Clark has stated she will seek an assignment to the House oversight committee and plans to question appointees regarding grant terminations and international research restrictions that have affected longitudinal studies in Africa.
A particular concern for researchers has been the screening of federal grant applications for terminology associated with diversity and inclusion efforts. This process has created challenges for scientists studying health disparities, who report difficulty applying for funding without using certain words. In September, several researchers filed a lawsuit arguing this screening process violated First Amendment rights.
According to polling data, health equity initiatives maintain broad public support across ideological groups, with three-quarters of U.S. adults backing the concept of all communities having fair opportunity to be healthy. Despite being portrayed as controversial in some contexts, the polling suggests these issues have potential for bipartisan appeal.
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