Americans Want Medical Progress
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in today as Secretary of Health and Human Services, placing him in charge of the nation’s top health agency. His leadership will shape the administration’s approach to research funding, regulatory priorities, and public health initiatives. For updates on other key health agency appointments, check out our HHS Nominee Tracker. Following HHS Secretary Kennedy’s confirmation and swearing in, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission.
Call to Action: The Trump administration continues to face legal challenges to recent executive orders impacting research funding. Last week, President Trump capped NIH indirect cost reimbursements at 15%, a drastic reduction that threatens medical progress. See our statement here. I was interviewed by the Associated Press about the impacts of this action. A federal judge issued a nationwide temporary restraining order (TRO), pausing implementation while litigation proceeds. Using our editable email and phone script, urge your representatives in Congress to weigh in against this funding cut.
More on Executive Orders: In another legal ruling this week, a federal judge ordered the administration to restore health agency websites and datasets that had been removed, ensuring continued public access to scientific and health information.
On Monday, the administration issued an executive order that requires federal agency heads, in consultation with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to develop plans for significantly reducing the number of federal employees and identifying options for reducing or consolidating federal agencies and programs. We are concerned about the potential impact of this order on our nation’s ability to meet Americans’ expectations for faster medical and public health progress. For example, as our latest survey showed, 9 out of 10 Americans want President Trump and Congress to assign a higher priority to faster medical progress. As we gather more information about this order, we will keep you updated.
Research!America has compiled a timeline of administration actions to help you track research-relevant policy changes.
Alliance Member-only Meeting: If you are with a Research!America member organization, mark your calendars for Tuesday, Feb. 25, at noon E.T. for our next off-the-record discussion. Keep an eye on your inbox for an invitation.
Whitehead Award Winners Announced: Yesterday, we announced the winners of the Edwin C. Whitehead Award: U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK-3) and U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18). See our release celebrating these two outstanding leaders. Reps. Lucas and Lofgren will be honored at the 2025 Advocacy Awards on Wednesday, March 12, at the National Academy of Sciences. Take a moment to review the full list of the advocacy stars we are honoring. The event is about a month away, so register now. Exploring the Capability and Potential of Genetically Targeted Technology: RNA therapies are a new class of medications that use RNA, a type of genetic material, to prevent and treat diseases. Please join us on Wednesday, March 5, for an in-person breakfast briefing where we will explore the powerful potential of genetically targeted technology and the profoundly important impact of such RNA-based therapies as antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and RNAi on prevention and treatment. This briefing will be held on Capitol Hill in 2044 Rayburn House Office Building from 8:30 a.m to 10 a.m. Space is limited, register today.
VAST Release: Please mark your calendar for a major release event on Feb 25. The Vision for American Science and Technology (VAST), is a blueprint for putting U.S. science and technology to work at the fastest possible pace to assure global competitiveness, a strong and healthy workforce, and national security. VAST will be released at a Washington, D.C., event sponsored by the online news organization AXIOS. More than 70 leaders from across the S&T ecosystem have contributed to this landmark effort, initiated by Research!America’s Science and Technology Action Committee (STAC). If ever there was a time for a vision and avenues to achieve it, it is now. Register here.
Aging Globally, Caring Locally: Considering the fact that the global population aged 65 and older is expected to double over the next three decades, how should countries adapt their health systems to prepare? Join us for an enlightening conversation on Feb. 18, at 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET featuring four esteemed panelists: Dr. Jepchirchir Kiplagat, Dr. Rosemary Morgan, Dr. Carolyn Meltzer, and Prof. Jonathan Cohen. To attend, register here.