A recent nomination hearing was held in the U.S. Senate regarding Thomas March Bell, a former fetal tissue investigator, for the inspector general role at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Senate Committee on Finance is set to determine whether his nomination will advance to the full Senate.
If confirmed, Bell could revive a 2021 federal investigation into the University of Pittsburgh's potentially illicit use of fetal tissue obtained from aborted babies. A particularly controversial study published in 2020 involved researchers attaching the scalps of second-trimester infants aborted at an affiliated hospital to mice and rats.
Bell was nominated to replace former HHS Inspector General Christi Grimm, who was dismissed by President Trump in January. In a letter sent prior to the hearing to U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Democratic members requested that Bell's nomination be tabled, arguing that Grimm's removal was "unlawful and illegitimate."
Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns over Bell's nomination due to his previous criticisms of the abortion industry. Between 2015 and 2017, Bell served as staff director and chief counsel for a House select panel investigating the alleged sale of fetal tissue for research in Planned Parenthood facilities, which have connections to the University of Pittsburgh.
During the hearing, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., criticized the Biden administration for its lack of oversight regarding abortion facilities, stating that it "wouldn't touch" the issue of compliance with medical procedures. Lankford has previously cosponsored a bill aimed at ending federal funding for research involving human fetal tissue from abortions and closing legal loopholes that have allowed the trafficking of aborted fetal body parts. Bell stated he would "follow the law and follow the facts" when asked about tracking the issue.
The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation into the University of Pittsburgh's fetal tissue research was initiated following suspicions of unlawful conduct, including claims of altered abortion procedures to obtain tissue. These claims were detailed by Republican lawmakers in multiple letters to the Biden administration, primarily based on a 2015 grant application submitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that highlighted the university's ability to minimize the time between collecting fetal tissue and cooling it for storage.
Former Inspector General Grimm indicated that her office would follow up upon completion of the inquiry. The University of Pittsburgh preemptively hired a law firm to conduct a regulatory assessment of its research studies involving fetal tissue, which appeared to mitigate the investigation's intensity. The law firm's report claimed no serious wrongdoing, but critics noted that it failed to examine the nearby UPMC Magee-Womens hospital, which houses one of the university's tissue banks and provides fetal organs for most Pitt studies. Allegations of partial-birth abortions and the harvesting of fetal organs to enhance research outcomes were not investigated, according to the final report.
Bell's confirmation could lead to a more thorough examination of this facility and its relationship with the university. Shortly after nominating Bell, President Trump announced plans to investigate the harvesting of aborted baby organs. His NIH director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, pledged during his Senate hearing to discontinue the use of aborted fetal tissue in NIH-funded grants.
The administration appears to be following through on this commitment. Last month, the NIH announced that more than a dozen human fetal tissue projects initiated by the Biden administration, which were set to continue into next year, would not be renewed. The University of Pittsburgh has been a significant recipient of NIH funding, currently ranking sixth in the nation for research dollars among all colleges and universities.
Why it matters
- Referenced datasets and surveys are correlational unless stated otherwise.
- Legal or policy outcomes depend on hearings, rulemaking, and potential court challenges.
- Thomas March Bell's nomination could reignite a federal investigation into the University of Pittsburgh's fetal tissue practices, raising ethical concerns.
- Democratic lawmakers oppose Bell's nomination, citing his past criticisms of the abortion industry and the controversial dismissal of former Inspector General Christi Grimm.
- Bell's confirmation may lead to increased scrutiny of fetal tissue research and its compliance with legal standards, impacting future funding and practices.
What’s next
- The Senate Committee on Finance will vote on Bell's nomination, determining if it advances to the full Senate for further consideration.
- Democratic members have requested to table Bell's nomination, citing concerns over the legitimacy of Grimm's removal and potential conflicts of interest.
- Investigations into the University of Pittsburgh's fetal tissue research practices may intensify if Bell is confirmed as Inspector General.