Jay Bhattacharya, the the agency’s director, has made a point of welcoming dissent. A letter from his officials will test that.

Several hundred NIH employees signed on to a letter rebuking agency actions since the start of President Trump's second term

In a written response shared with the AP, Bhattacharya defended the agency’s direction, insisting the letter “has some fundamental misconceptions about the policy directions the NIH has taken in recent months.” But he reiterated his commitment to dialogue: “Respectful dissent in science is productive,” he said. “We all want the NIH to succeed.”