Congressman Cleaver Joins 88 U.S. Representatives to Condemn Trump Administration’s Attacks on National Institutes of Health
The Trump Administration’s Threats Endanger Critical Research on Cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Other Health Conditions
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) joined 88 House Democrats in decrying the Trump Administration’s attacks on the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These actions are endangering critically important medical research, including clinical trials and research for cancer, Alzheimer’s and other illnesses. Healthcare organizations across Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District receive dozens of federal awards that invest tens of millions of dollars in critical public health research that could be impacted by the Trump Administration’s efforts to freeze federal funding.
In a letter to Acting Director of the NIH Matthew Memoli, the members argue that the multitude of Trump directives is creating uncertainty that affects funding, researcher employment, pausing any new studies or preprinting of research that could be critical to saving lives.
“No one should have their clinical trial, or research critical to a cure delayed or suspended because of politics,” the lawmakers wrote. “We are deeply concerned by the effort to shut down public-facing work at the NIH, which has long enjoyed bipartisan support.”
“We understand that purchasing orders to outside suppliers have been widely disrupted,” the lawmakers continued. “We are also concerned about any freeze of funding for NIH, which could hamper key clinical trials, research designed to secure cures, infrastructure needed to support research and clinical trials, and researchers and necessary support staff. These meetings and study sections help determine which research projects to fund and disruptions could delay critical research and interrupt grant funding.”
The official letter from lawmakers is available here.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.