Key Health Lawmakers Blast Move to Put Biomedical Agency in NIH

The Biden administration’s decision to house a new biomedical agency within the NIH drew criticism from key House Democrats who say such a move will stymie its progress.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra confirmed the decision during a Thursday hearing on the HHS’s fiscal 2023 budget request. He also told Congress on Wednesday that the department will launch the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) “under the auspices of the National Institutes of Health,” in line with a statutory requirement, an HHS spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

But two House lawmakers with the power to direct ...