Yeah, I understood. My reply wasn’t actually directed at you; sorry for not being clear. I just wanted to add that bit in case other readers didn’t know that this was more forceful than a request.

They weren’t asked, they were mandated to do so directly by executive order. I get the desire to not comply, here, but if I’m NIH, I’m probably thinking that complying to keep the doors open for four years will do a hell of a lot more for the country than if they refuse and Trump totally dismantles their entire architecture with enough time that it’s difficult to reinstitute when he’s gone.