Rep. Terri Sewell Blasts Trump Administration for Gutting $44M Biotech Grant in Birmingham Tech Hub Setback

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) is condemning the Trump Administration’s cancellation of a $44 million grant intended for the Birmingham Biotechnology Hub, a pioneering project led by Southern Research Institute. The investment, announced in January, was designed to boost AI-driven biotech innovation and increase diverse representation in clinical trials—a cornerstone for public health and economic growth in Alabama. The grant’s abrupt revocation forces the team to recompete under new guidelines, despite years of bipartisan support and strategic national security value. Sewell called the decision "outrageous," while Sen. Katie Britt reaffirmed her backing, citing the hub's role in onshoring biotech to counter global threats. Originally backed under the CHIPS and Science Act, the project’s future now hangs in the balance, potentially stalling momentum for America’s biotech leadership.