1. United States
2. Idaho
3. Letter

The proposed cuts to indirect funding for medical research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would have severe negative consequences for universities and the critical research they conduct. Currently, universities receive up to 50% of a grant's value as indirect funds to cover overhead costs like facilities, equipment, and staff salaries. Reducing this vital support to only 15% would create massive budget shortfalls that will cripple research programs across the country. This policy emerged from the administration's "Project 2025" proposals which aimed to cut funding alleged to support "woke" university initiatives. However, the indirect funds are essential for maintaining the infrastructure allowing cutting-edge medical breakthroughs. Eviscerating this funding stream will stall progress on treatments for cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes and other diseases that devastate millions of American families every year. Leading research institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Johns Hopkins could lose over 60% of their overhead funding under this plan. Smaller universities will suffer as well, with programs shuttered and studies halted due to lack of funds. Clinical trials providing new hope to patients will be disrupted or abandoned entirely. Promising young scientists may leave the field. America's global leadership in biomedical research is at severe risk. This reckless policy prioritizes an ideological agenda over the health and wellbeing of the nation. It will undermine universities' ability to make life-changing medical advances and train the next generation of researchers. I urge you to firmly oppose these shortsighted cuts that will stifle innovation and leave Americans more vulnerable to deadly diseases. Our world-class medical research capability is too precious to sacrifice.