NIH Terminates GoF Research; OMB Proposes 54% Cut to CDC Budget in FY 2026
· “Via the False Claims Act, NIH Puts Universities on Edge,” Sara Talpos, Undark
· “In Fight Over Research Overhead Funding, Universities Propose Alternatives to Trump’s Cuts,” Jonathan Wosen, STAT News
CDC Official Who Oversaw COVID-19 Hospitalization Data Resigns
Fiona Havers, MD, MHS, FIDS, who worked within CDC’s Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division and oversaw the Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET), has resigned from the agency, citing a lack of confidence that the data she oversaw will be used appropriately. RESP-NET’s analysis has previously factored into the CDC Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices’ decision making. In an email sent to colleagues, she wrote, “I no longer have confidence that these data will be used objectively or evaluated with appropriate scientific rigor to make evidence-based vaccine policy decisions.
Further Reading:
· “Why a Vaccine Expert Left the C.D.C.: ‘Americans Are Going to Die,’” Apoorva Mandavilli, The New York Times
· “‘We Are Less Safe, Plain and Simple’ Former CDC Director Tom Frieden on the Trump Administration’s Relentless Attack on Public Health,” Benjamin Hart, New York Magazine
White House, OMB Propose 54% Cut to CDC Budget in FY 2026
The FY2026 budget proposal includes a proposed reduction of CDC’s funding from $9.3 billion (combined with ASTDR, for which the CDC handles most administrative functions) down to $4.3 billion. This would include a $1.4 billion cut to chronic disease prevention, $794 million in cuts to HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, STD, & TB prevention, and $371 million in cuts to global health. Of those programs that would be eliminated, relatively few of them are expected to be moved to the Administration for a Healthy America or the HHS Office of the Secretary. Under this proposal, 36% of CDC’s existing programs will be eliminated.
Read the CDC Data Project’s break down of the proposed cuts here.
Further Reading:
· “Strengthening Biosecurity Efforts Without the Federal Government,” Farah Sonde, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
· “CDC Staffing Upheaval Disrupts HIV Projects and Wastes Money, Researchers Say,” Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News
· “CDC Interim Leaders, in First All-Hands Meeting, Speak of ‘Myth-Busting’ and ‘Resilience,’” Helen Branswell, STAT News
Federal Judge Blocks Administration from Withdrawing Public Health Funding to Four Municipalities
US District Court Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington, DC issued a preliminary injunction this week preventing the federal government from withdrawing millions in public health funding from four municipalities in Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, and Missouri. The injunction was sought by district attorneys in Harris County, TX (home of Houston), Columbus, OH, Nashville, TN, and Kansas City, MO, all of which are led by Democratic elected officials. The lawsuit, which was filed in late April, alleged that the $11 billion in CDC program funding had already been approved by Congress and was therefore being unconstitutionally withheld from the municipalities. The lawsuit further argues that the administration’s actions violate HHS regulations. This is the second such federal ruling that has reinstated public health funding across several states.
Further Reading on Questions, Concerns About COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendation Changes, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices:
· “Kennedy’s HHS Sent Congress ‘Junk Science’ to Defend Vaccine Changes, Experts Say,” Jackie Fortiér, KFF Health News
· “Kennedy’s New Vaccine Advisers Helped Lawyers Raise Doubts About Their Safety,” Christina Jewett and Sheryl Gay Stolberg, The New York Times
· “How Vaccine Critics Appointed by RFK Jr. Could Limit Access to Shots,” Lena H. Sun and Lauren Weber, The Washington Post
· “Six Former CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee Chairs Warn: U.S. Risks Losing Access to Life-Saving Immunizations,” Grace Lee, Nancy Bennett, Jonathan Temte, Carol Baker, and José Romero, STAT News
· “RFK Jr. is Sabotaging the Vaccine Program. Here’s How to Stop Him,” Ashish K. Jha, The Washington Post
· “Celebrated, Then Disparaged: mRNA’s Promise is Tarnished Under Trump,” Daniel Gilbert, Carolyn Y. Johnson and Rachel Roubein, The Washington Post
· “Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at a Crossroads,” Edwin J. Asturias, Noel T. Brewer, and Oliver Brooks, JAMA
· “The Vaccine Integrity Project – Interim Update (June 17 2025),” CIDRAP
· “Kennedy’s HHS Sent Congress ‘Junk Science’ to Defend Vaccine Changes, Experts Say,” Jackie Fortiér, KFF Health News
This article is published courtesy of the Pandora Report.
