60 Minutes
NIH | Evidence | The Land of Declining Sons
Season 57, Episode 28 · Aired 2025-04-27
Synopsis
NIH – In its ongoing mission to shrink the federal government, the Trump administration has cut over a thousand jobs and billions in research grants from America's crown jewel of medical research – the National Institutes of Health. While other administrations have tried to downsize the NIH before, leaked Trump administration documents show plans to reduce the NIH budget by more than 40%, sending shockwaves throughout the scientific community. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi sits down with the former director of the NIH, Dr. Francis Collins, as well as with a researcher and an NIH insider who all say these measures could jeopardize the health of Americans for generations to come. Ashley Velie is the producer. Evidence – Evidence has emerged that could change our understanding of the 9/11 terrorist attacks more than two decades ago. A 60 MINUTES investigation found that crucial information, initially turned over to the FBI shortly after the attacks, was never shared with the bureau's own field agents or senior intelligence officials. Correspondent Cecilia Vega reports on this evidence, which has come to light amid a lawsuit against the Saudi government filed by families of the nearly 3,000 victims and includes a video of a Saudi national filming the U.S. Capitol, thought to be al-Qaeda's fourth target. Richard Bonin and Mirella Brussani are the producers. The Land of Declining Sons – The world's population may have recently surpassed 8 billion, but this is a misleading figure. Growth is unevenly distributed, and many countries are experiencing a decline in population – in some cases, steeply. Consider Japan. The country with the fourth-largest economy is now facing a rapidly declining birth rate and a population projected to shrink in half by this century's end. Correspondent Jon Wertheim reports from Japan, examining how these demographic changes affect the country and its culture. Jacqueline Williams is the producer.
In the series
This episode is part of 60 Minutes (1968–present) on CBS.
Tick-tick-tick — Sunday night investigative theater that outrated sitcoms.
Key cast
- Mike Wallace as Correspondent
- Morley Safer as Correspondent
- Harry Reasoner as Correspondent
- Ed Bradley as Correspondent
- Diane Sawyer as Correspondent
Also in season 57
- S57E01 The Prosecution of Jan. 6 | Danger in the South China Sea | Dua Lipa
- S57E02 Scourge of Our Time | The Trustbuster | Inside the Archives
- S57E03 After the Hurricane | Vladimir Kara-Murza | Welcome to the W | The Mezcaleros
- S57E04 The 2024 Presidential Ticket | Belief in the Ballot
- S57E05 Pennsylvania Counts | The Vatican's Orphans | Ballmer's Ballgame
- S57E06 Relief, N.C. | Navalny | The Swingiest County | The Cap Arcona