WASHINGTON (June 1, 2026) – Erika Sward, Executive Director of United for Cures, a collaborative network of patient advocacy organizations, released the following statement in response to the White House Office of Management and Budget’s proposal to prioritize politics over science in medical research.

“One surefire way to jeopardize the development of breakthrough cures and treatments for millions of American families who urgently need them is to put politics at the center of it. OMB’s proposal would delay grants that have already cleared rigorous evaluation and upend a merit-based, competitive process. 95% of Americans believe that the U.S. must maintain our global leadership in medical research – this proposal flies in direct opposition of that and would cost lives and American leadership.”