RECENT COVERAGE
The Washington Post
Industry, academia and local governments warn of federal funding shock
Other organizations, in addition to the American Chemical Society — including the American Physical Society; Stand Up for Science; the patient advocacy network of groups known as United for Cures; the Association of American Universities; and the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, an umbrella group of more than 200 groups — launched campaigns encouraging those with concerns to contact Congress, OMB or both.
The Financial Times
Trump is driving another nail into the coffin of US science
At some point, the last nail will be hammered into the coffin and the lid firmly shut. For US science, that final nail might well be the bland-sounding Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance.
More than 30 professional groups, representing mathematicians, biologists, chemists and engineers, among others, have signed in agreement. United for Cures, a coalition of 57 patient groups, has urged Congress to block the proposal.
POLITICO
Researchers fight Trump’s grant overhaul
Today, 57 patient groups, led by patient advocacy network United for Cures, urged congressional leadership to push for the rule to be withdrawn, arguing the regulation would have “grave” impacts on biomedical research, including allowing research grants to be terminated at any time with little recourse.
POLITICO
Influence Newsletter: House Dems Blast OMB Rule
Senate Democrats wrote to Vought earlier this month to oppose the proposed changes, and Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) expressed concern with parts of the rule in a letter sent to OMB last week. A group of 57 patient advocacy organizations led by the coalition United for Cures also asked House and Senate leaders today to push OMB to withdraw the rule.
POLITICO
Research world rallies against new grant rules
Nonprofits, research institutions and scientists are going to bat with the Office of Management and Budget over a proposed rule that would overhaul the federal government’s process for awarding research grants, Jacob reports.
The rule could also impact patients already dealing with the effects of research cuts, said Erika Sward, executive director of patient advocacy network United for Cures. “It’s an avalanche at this point,” she said. “And patients are in the middle of the hill, trying to figure out if they can still go up this hill of searching for treatments or if they’re going to get swept away by the fact that so many different grants were terminated.”
Axios
Research advocates prepare for next NIH budget fight
Medical research advocates are bracing for a grinding election-year fight over the future of the National Institutes of Health with the expected release of the Trump administration's FY 2027 budget Friday.
"The president has said he wants to make America healthy again. He said he wants to end cancer. These things are only possible if you increase the funding of the NIH," said Russ Paulsen, executive director of United for Cures, a network of patient advocacy groups.
Alabama Political Reporter
UA athletes and advocacy group team up for medical research Iron Bowl ad
A coalition of patient advocacy organizations has teamed up with University of Alabama athletes for an ad campaign advocating for National Institutes of Health research funding.
United for Cures, a coalition formed earlier this year, will air an advertisement during the Iron Bowl highlighting a personal testimony from UA Men’s Basketball player Houston Mallette on why he believes medical research funding is important. The organization is also planning an additional ad with UA Women’s Basketball Player Eris Lester.
NPR
Patient Voices, Peak Pressure: How Cancer Advocates Are Mobilizing Beyond Politics
NPR explores how the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is mobilizing patients, survivors, and caregivers to bring their personal stories — and demands — directly to lawmakers. Highlighting how advocacy is changing the tone in Washington and referencing recent United for Cures polling, which reveals strong public backing for increased investment in cancer research, prevention, early detection, and ensuring access to care.
AAMC
New AAMC Report Highlights How Robust Funding for NIH Would Save Lives
Today, the AAMC published a new report, Robust NIH Funding Saves Lives, Strengthens America, which raises awareness of the threat to America’s dominance in scientific discovery if the administration refuses to distribute Congressionally-approved National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding.
Fast Company
How NIH Funding Cuts Could Stunt U.S. Research for Decades
In May 2025, the White House proposed reducing the budget of the National Institutes of Health by roughly 40%—from about $48 billion to $27 billion. Such a move would return NIH funding to levels last seen in 2007. Since NIH budget records began in 1938, NIH has seen only one previous double-digit cut: a 12% reduction in 1952.
Punchbowl News
Health care groups press House GOP over NIH funding
A coalition of nearly four dozen top health care advocacy groups is urging House Republicans to oppose any cuts to NIH funding, even as the Trump administration withholds hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants for the agency.
Brookings
Cuts to NIH funding go beyond health
The extent of these potential NIH funding cuts may have even broader implications. The innovations that result from this research generate investments that spur economic activity across the country. The economic impact may also be felt at the local level. When individual institutions receive those funds, they hire researchers who may relocate to take these jobs. Spending in the area increases and other local businesses may prosper.
CNN
Uncertainty around NIH funding leaves Alzheimer’s studies in limbo
Zahydie Burgos Ribot and her husband, Francisco Rios, are checking items off their travel bucket list and spending quality time together before Francisco will no longer be able to travel – and before his brain forgets.
Johns Hopkins
Operation Hope: How Federally Funded Research Helped Navy Veteran Beat Lung Cancer and Pneumonitis
It started with a bit of blood. In April 2013, then 68-year-old John Ryan checked in with his primary care physician after he suddenly began to cough up trace amounts of blood. One emergency room trip and several tests later, the 30-year Navy veteran was told to prepare for his toughest battle yet: stage 4 non-small-cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma.
Forbes
57 Patient Advocacy Organizations Ask Congress To Block Trump OMB Rule
57 patient advocacy organizations are no longer being “patient” with Congress about what the Trump administration is trying to do to federal funding via the White House Office of Management and Budget’s proposed “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance.”
The letter from these patient advocacy organizations that are part of the United for Cures collective indicated, “We have grave concerns about the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed rule.”
Inside Higher Ed
Universities Warn Against Rule on Political Control of Grants
In a message to congressional leaders on behalf of 57 organizations, including the American Diabetes Association and the American Lung Association, United for Cures called on Congress to stop the proposal and warned the Trump administration that future presidencies could use the rule to their own ends.
The Washington Post
Health Brief
Nearly five dozen patient and medical research organizations, part of a coalition called United for Cures, urged congressional leadership to press the Trump administration to nix a proposed overhaul of the federal rulemaking process.
The Hill
Trump’s proposed research rule faces widespread pushback
On Monday, 57 leading patient advocacy organizations representing millions of Americans living with chronic and acute diseases called on congressional leaders to push OMB to withdraw the rule before it takes effect. The organizations are part of a collaborative network called United for Cures.
The Dallas Morning News
Letters to the Editor — Alzheimer’s research
“In October 2015, my husband sat me down and said, through tears, “I’m sick.” I had noticed the memory lapses, but nothing could prepare me for the truth: Alzheimer’s. He was still working, still vibrant, still young. His mother had suffered from the disease, and now it had come for him, too.”
NBC News
Trump wants to politicize $1 trillion in grants. This time, scientists aren’t the only ones fighting back
“This has been a little bit of an all-hands-on-deck,” said Erika Sward, the executive director of United for Cures, which represents a coalition of patient advocacy organizations. “We saw this huge threat with this proposed rule to the patients we represent — how, on a dime, a clinical trial could end if the political winds blow that way.”
Roll Call
Sources: White House to propose 20 percent cut to NIH funding
The White House is expected to ask Congress to cut National Institutes of Health spending by 20 percent in the president’s fiscal 2027 budget request, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the planning.
The budget request, slated for release next week, reflects President Donald Trump’s policy priorities and acts as a guide to lawmakers as they draft appropriations bills for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.