On March 5, 2025, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing for Dr. Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya, President Donald Trump’s nominee to become the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Based on available information, here’s a summary of the main issues discussed during the hearing:

Restoring Public Trust in Science: Bhattacharya emphasized his goal to restore faith in medical research and science among the American public. He pledged to support free and open scientific discussion and stressed the importance of ensuring that scientific findings are reliable and reproducible. This focus comes amid concerns about declining trust in institutions like the NIH, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Policies and Past Controversies: Bhattacharya’s previous stances on COVID-19, notably his co-authorship of the Great Barrington Declaration in October 2020, were likely a focal point. The declaration criticized widespread lockdowns, advocating instead for “focused protection” of vulnerable populations while allowing others to resume normal life to build herd immunity. This view clashed with the NIH’s then-director, Francis Collins, who called it fringe and dangerous. Senators may have pressed him on how these views would influence his leadership at NIH.

Vaccines and Misinformation: Bhattacharya faced questions about vaccine-related misinformation, particularly given his nomination alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s controversial appointment to another health-related role. He explicitly stated his belief that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine does not cause autism, aiming to clarify his stance on a topic that has been a lightning rod in public health debates.

Research Priorities: He highlighted a commitment to focusing NIH research on chronic diseases such as obesity, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. This aligns with broader public health challenges and suggests a potential shift in NIH priorities under his leadership, though specifics on implementation were not detailed.

Current NIH Challenges: The hearing occurred against a backdrop of turmoil at NIH, including mass layoffs, grant funding delays, and budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration (e.g., a cap on indirect costs for research grants). Bhattacharya reportedly sidestepped direct criticism of these ongoing issues, focusing instead on his vision for the agency. Senators likely probed how he would address these operational and financial challenges.

Censorship and Free Speech: His involvement in Murthy v. Missouri, a Supreme Court case where he argued he was unfairly censored on social media for his COVID-19 views, may have been raised. This could tie into broader discussions about the role of government in managing scientific discourse and misinformation.

The hearing was described as relatively smooth for Bhattacharya, despite the contentious context, with Republican support evident (e.g., Sen. Bill Cassidy praised his vision). However, Democrats, such as Sen. Patty Murray, emphasized the need for an NIH leader to uphold its role as a global leader in lifesaving research, potentially signaling scrutiny of his past positions. Specific exchanges or votes were not fully detailed in real-time sources, but these issues reflect the key themes based on pre-hearing coverage and Bhattacharya’s background.