The Pentagon and National Institutes of Health signed an agreement to collaborate on biodefense and pandemic preparedness, drawing sharp criticism from Congressional Democrats. The deal, obtained by The New York Times, could involve up to $2 billion from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), roughly a third of its budget. Democrats, including Representative Rosa De Lauro and Senator Patty Murray, warned the arrangement allows the Defense Department to bypass Congress and redirect funds allocated for medical research to Pentagon priorities. They demanded the agreement be terminated immediately.

Trump administration officials pushed back. NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya stated the partnership focuses on research projects aligned with public health missions and is led by NIAID. White House spokesman Kush Desai denied any money transfer to the Pentagon, calling it a project-by-project research partnership. The Pentagon did not comment.

The agreement comes amid turmoil at NIAID, which has lost longtime leaders and shifted away from biodefense under the Trump administration. Former director Dr. Anthony S. Fauci led the agency's pandemic response. The deal was signed by Dr. Bhattacharya and Dr. Robert Kadlec at the Defense Department.