“Whatever people are reading in newspapers, it’s 10 times worse” (NYT)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the backbone of American medical research, funding life-saving studies on cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and countless other conditions.

It directly supports research at 27 centers dedicated to treating disease and improving health, while also funding over 300,000 scientists at more than 2,500 universities and medical centers nationwide.

Now, that research is under attack.

New policies imposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are severely obstructing critical medical research at the NIH, endangering scientific progress and American lives.

For example: Researchers have been blocked from submitting their findings to scientific journals or speaking at scientific events, undermining the exchange of life-saving knowledge. A 30-day travel ban has been reported, which left scientists unable to collaborate on urgent studies. A $1 spending limit on government credit cards has made it impossible to purchase even the most basic laboratory supplies, as some report to NYT.

These reckless policies will cripple medical advancements. Former NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins put it plainly: “If you are taking an FDA-approved drug that is improving the quality or length of your life, there is a 99 percent chance NIH was involved in the pathway to its discovery.”

If these policies continue, clinical trials that shape the future of medicine will be stalled.

Lifesaving breakthroughs in cancer treatment, heart disease prevention, and other urgent health needs will be delayed—or lost altogether.

We demand that the Trump administration and Congress take immediate action to reverse these harmful DOGE-imposed restrictions and restore full functionality to the NIH. 

Sign this petition.