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The First 100 Hours

As anticipated and all but guaranteed when a new president and Congress fully launch, there is much to report:

  • We now know who will serve on the influential House and Senate Appropriations, Energy & Commerce, and Science Committees (see this Research!America resource).
  • The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing at 10 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Jan 29, for Robert Kennedy, Jr., President Trump’s nominee for the cabinet-level role of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. You can find a list of HHS nominations and appointments here.
  • Last week, Dr. Dorothy Fink, an endocrinologist and Director of the HHS Office on Women’s Health, was named interim Secretary of HHS.
  • This week, the president announced a series of executive orders, available here, that bear on research-relevant issues such as the participation of the U.S. in the World Health Organization; the possibility of achieving new operational and cost efficiencies at federal agencies; and the federal approach to workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Also this week, the administration acted to temporarily limit external communication and suspend travel across HHS. Additionally, the administration suspended Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) bodies at NIH, which also led to the temporary suspension of peer review study sections. We are hopeful this pause will end by Feb. 1 and the other suspensions, versions of which have been established by previous incoming administrations, will also end soon.

We had the opportunity today to discuss these developments during an alliance member-only meeting that featured Mary Dee Beal and Leslie Zelenko of KDCR Partners. Mary Dee and Leslie also mapped out other variables that point to a complex and consequential first 100 days for President Trump and the 119th Congress. The list (not exhaustive) includes:

  • the need to address the federal debt limit and disaster assistance;
  • strong interest in “budget reconciliation” legislation, which would only need a simple majority, for several presidential priorities, such as border security, energy policy, and the extension of certain tax policies;
  • the March 14 deadline for action on Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) appropriations and key health policy extenders. A full list of health provisions can be found in Division C, Titles I and II, of the American Relief Act, 2025;
  • the need to reauthorize other important, R&D-relevant legislation that did not make it into the package of health extenders referenced above, including the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program and the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act; and
  • the upcoming President’s Budget and the beginning of the FY26 appropriations cycle.

The opportunity to work together with you – through alliance member-only discussions and in many other ways – is a privilege. If your organization is not yet part of our alliance and is interested in exploring that possibility, please email Kristen Furlong – we would love to connect with you!

Survey Findings Arriving Soon: A national public opinion survey commissioned by Research!America reveals relevant findings – for example, across the political spectrum, 9 in 10 Americans believe the president and Congress should assign a higher priority to medical progress. Other findings speak to the views of Americans on infectious disease and chronic disease research, top health threats, vaccines, and more. There are some surprises – at least for me – which is one reason Research!America has long been committed to keeping a finger on the public pulse as a core part of our advocacy work. Stay tuned for the release.

Why public opinion surveys? Like elected officials and those who seek to be, we keep Abraham Lincoln’s advice well in mind as we strive to serve the public’s interest:

More on FY25: Leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have started discussions on revised topline spending levels for FY25 appropriations. This is a promising step toward avoiding a year-long extension of flat funding and — with your advocacy — achieving increased research funding. Take action now by customizing this editable email to share your voice directly with your members of Congress.

Can our nation dramatically improve health and health care? As the new administration and Congress consider actions bearing on the health, security, and prosperity of the American people for generations to come, the National Academy of Medicine mined for pragmatic steps our nation can take – spanning health care, research, financing, and delivery – to achieve significantly improved health outcomes. Several Research!America board members and I participated in this work. I hope you can join a NAM briefing on the recommendations on Feb. 27 from 12 to 1 p.m. ET.  Register to attend here, and check out any or all of the resulting policy briefs below:

Connect with a Public Health Champion: Join us on Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. ET for a discussion with Dr. Alfred Sommer, Dean Emeritus, University Distinguished Service Professor, Professor Emeritus, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and recipient of Research!America’s 2025 Outstanding Achievement in Public Health Award. In conversation with fellow Bloomberg School professor Dr. Scott Zeger, Dr. Sommer will share insights from his storied career – from his lifesaving work as a physician-scientist making the connection between Vitamin A deficiency and childhood mortality to his leadership as dean of the Bloomberg School. We hope you can join, and participate in, this special discussion. Register here.

Save the Date: Put a calendar hold for Wednesday, March 12, for the 2025 Advocacy Awards at the National Academies of Sciences in Washington, D.C., where we will recognize the nation’s top leaders and advocates for medical and health research. Stay tuned to this space in the coming weeks for more details, but go ahead and register now.

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