We have been asked before under what circumstances NIH recovers funds because of grant noncompliance. This important question has many layers, as there are implications for NIH grants oversight, integrity in research, protection of the U.S. taxpayer’s investment, and the public’s trust in scientific research. Here, we will discuss the reasons why NIH may seek to recover funds, specifically in situations of overt and covert omissions of non-compliance (not “honest errors”).