The United States of America’s Senate has confirmed the appointment of Indian-origin American scientist Dr Jay Bhattacharya as the new Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr Jay Bhattacharya was nominated by Donald Trump as the 18th NIH Director after being elected as the 47th President of the US in November 2024.
According to the American National Cancer Act Amendments of 1974, the Director of the NIH is appointed by the US President and is approved by the US Senate.
The 100-member Senate is the upper house of the Federal legislature known as the Congress.
The 435-member House of Representatives is the lower house of Congress.
The Republican Party, of which Donald Trump is a member, has a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a premier medical research agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It funds medical research within the country.
It comes under the US Department of Health and Human Services, headed by Robert Kennedy Jr.
Dr Jay Bhattacharya was born in Kolkata, West Bengal, and migrated to the United States.
He is a professor of health policy and economics at Stanford University and director of Stanford’s Center on the Demography and Economics of Health and Aging.
He is known for his controversial stance during the COVID-19 pandemic, opposing lockdowns and mask mandates.
After being elected as the President of the US for the second time, Donald Trump has nominated several Indian origin Americans in his cabinet.
Usha Vance is the wife of the Vice President James David Vance. Usha Vance was born in the United States and her parents migrated from Andhra Pradesh to the United States.
She is not part of the Donald Trump cabinet, but she is the first Indian origin lady to become the second lady of the United States.
Tulsi Gabbard
Tulsi Gabbard has been appointed as the Director of the National Intelligence of the United States. She is not of Indian origin but is a practicing Hindu and devotee of Lord Krishna.
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