For decades, U.S. leadership in science has saved lives, fueled our economy, and inspired the world. Now, as other nations race to claim the next breakthroughs in medicine and technology, we’re dismantling the very system that made us a leader.

Cuts have consequences. If we want America to keep winning—and to deliver the cures, jobs, and innovations of tomorrow—we have to protect the investment generations of Americans have built.

What’s happening With Funding?

1. Massive Budget Cuts

The administration has proposed a 40% cut to the NIH and billions more slashed from the CDC, FDA, and other health agencies — threatening clinical trials, jobs, and innovation.

Source: Science; Washington Post

2. Politicizing Research Funding

A new executive order lets political appointees approve or cancel any federal research grant, replacing independent peer review with political tests.

Source: AP News; STAT News 

Example: A $750,000 NIH grant for sickle cell disease research was cut because it was labeled “DEI,” despite the disease affecting 100,000 mostly Black Americans in the U.S.

Source: NBC; PBS

3. GUTTING mRNA & Other Key Research

Nearly $500 million in mRNA research contracts canceled — many unrelated to COVID or flu. mRNA is a platform with huge potential for:

• Cancer vaccines
• Personalized treatments for rare diseases
• Rapid-response vaccines for future outbreaks
• Autoimmune therapies

Source: AP; Time

4. Dismantling Health Agencies

HHS is eliminating or merging offices for chronic disease prevention, global health, HIV, environmental health, and injury prevention — and cutting 20,000 public health jobs.

Why it matters:

• Slows progress against heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s
• Weakens outbreak detection abroad
• Risks reversing decades of HIV progress
• Loses irreplaceable scientific talent
• Reduces readiness for pandemics, disasters, and bioterror threats

 Source: Wikipedia summary; The Guardian

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