The Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) is deeply disappointed in the released today by President Donald J. Trump. Under the proposed budget, funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would be cut nearly in half—from about $48 billion to $27 billion— devastating the nation’s scientific research enterprise and putting the lives of millions of Americans at risk.
In the budget document, the president described the NIH—viewed for decades as the “crown jewel” of biomedical research—as “too big and unfocused.” He further denigrated the agency by stating “it has broken the trust of the American people with wasteful spending, misleading information, risky research, and the promotion of dangerous ideologies that undermine public health.” These comments are rooted in a misinterpretation ofscientific research that further erodes public trust in the NIH and other federal health agencies.
The proposed budget cuts would effectively destroy our country’s reputation as the global leader in biomedical research, further damage an already strained American economy, and halt scientific advances with the potential to save lives. Though the negative effects of such cuts would be felt immediately, reversing the extensive damage would take decades – even generations.
Ultimately, Congress—not the president—holds the “power of the purse,” so AACI is optimistic that members of Congress will reject the budget proposal. We are also hopeful that the impactful testimony shared at the April 30 Senate hearing, “,” will remind them of the critical need for continued federal investments in the NIH.
AACI urges Congress to continue its longstanding bipartisan support of biomedical research and the NIH. We stand ready to collaborate with Congress to ensure that scientists can conduct lifesaving research without disruption and that the NIH will retain its position as the world leader in medical research.
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