WASHINGTON – Since President Donald Trump returned to office, GOP Sen. Susan Collins has voted against confirming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, pushed back on Trump's efforts to withhold Congressionally-directed spending, and has been openly critical of the new role tech billionaire Elon Musk is playing in the administration.

The Maine Republican could leverage her position to push back against NIH cuts she opposes. At least for now, the senator is choosing not to.

Collins said Kennedy “promised” that as soon as he was confirmed he would “re-examine this initiative” that he says was “implemented prior to his confirmation.”

The National Institutes of Health directive to cap "indirect costs" for medical research grants drew swift criticism.