# GAO Urges NIH to Assess Research Fraud Risks

The Government Accountability Office recommended that the National Institutes of Health conduct recurring, program-specific fraud risk assessments across its extramural research program, including risks related to foreign interference; NIH concurred. NIH distributed about $35 billion in extramural research funding in FY 2025. The recommendation concerns NIH’s oversight of research funding and does not announce a solicitation or impose new contractor requirements.

- Organizations supporting grant administration, research security, or risk assessment may find opportunities if NIH strengthens its oversight capacity, but the signal identifies no specific procurement or funding opportunity.
- Research institutions and contractors can review how their grant-administration and risk-assessment support aligns with recurring, program-specific fraud reviews, while distinguishing NIH’s recommendation from requirements directed at recipients or contractors.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Healthcare
**Topics:** Grants & Funding, Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 19, 2026

### Government Entities
- Government Accountability Office (GAO)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)

### Sources
- [GAO: NIH Needs Fraud Risk Review for Foreign Interference](https://www.executivegov.com/articles/gao-nih-foreign-interference-fraud-risk-assessment) - ExecutiveGov