Patty Murray: Trump Administration Declared 'War on Public Health' by Cutting NIH Grants

Trump Administration's Impact on NIH and Public Health

• 📉 Since President Trump took office, the administration has terminated $2.3 billion in life-saving research funded by the NIH.
• 💰 They attempted to cut billions more by illegally implementing a new indirect cost policy and proposed gutting the NIH budget by 43% ($20 billion).
• 🔬 Thousands of scientists and grant administrators have been laid off across NIH and HHS, and the FDA's review of drugs and medical products has been slowed due to staff reductions.
• ⚠️ Over 100 clinical trials discovering new treatments and cures have been halted, leading Senator Murray to declare the administration has declared 'war on public health'.

Decreased Competitiveness in Biomedical Research

• 🌍 Cancelling over 5,000 NIH grants, from cancer to Alzheimer's, substantially decreases American competitiveness in biomedical research and innovation.
• 🌐 Without continued support, the U.S. risks losing the competitive battle with research institutions in other countries, impacting the development of cures and spin-off companies.
• 💡 More than 99% of new drugs approved by the FDA from 2010-2019 were built on a foundation of NIH-funded research, highlighting its critical role.

Consequences for Pharmaceutical Companies and Patients

• ⏳ Short-term, cancelled clinical trials and delayed grant awards mean that potentially safe and effective therapies are not reaching patients in a timely manner.
• 📉 Long-term, cuts to NIH mean a lack of foundational research, which is the catalyst for innovation and the development of transformative treatments in 5-10 years.
• 📈 Biotech industries lack the resources and short-term focus to replace NIH funding, as they prioritize 1-5 year returns for shareholders.

Impact on Rare Disease Patients and Trainees

• 💔 Cancelling rare disease clinical trials and suspending future funding directly impacts rare disease patients and their families, disrupting the virtuous circle of innovation.
• 🎓 Trainees are leaving the U.S. for other countries due to a lack of research opportunities in public, academic, and private sectors, exacerbated by huge job cuts.
• 🏛️ Congress has a responsibility to fund critical agencies like NIH and FDA, rather than decimating the future through layoffs, firings, and funding cuts.