AACR Statement on the New Administration’s Recent Executive Orders and Policy Proposals
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is increasingly concerned about the numerous executive orders and policy proposals that the new administration has issued during the first two weeks of President Trump’s second term. Many of the President’s executive orders and temporary freezes have been very disruptive for the various agencies that are part of the Department of Health and Human Services, most especially NIH, FDA, and CDC.
The full impact of these actions on cancer research is still unclear. The AACR is in the process of gathering information, including examples of how the actions of the administration are affecting the broader cancer research community. We are also monitoring how the administration responds to some of their self-imposed deadlines of early February for clarifying or lifting various orders.
Tremendous strides against cancer have been made over the past several decades, thanks in large part to strong federal investments in medical and public health research. Funding for cancer research has led to advances in prevention, early detection, and treatment that have contributed to a substantial decline in cancer mortality in the United States. Between 1991 and 2021, the age-adjusted overall cancer death rate in the United States fell by 33%—an estimated 4.1 million cancer deaths averted.
Federal funding for cancer research—and the work of experts at our federal health agencies, cancer centers, and other institutions—must continue unabated if we are to make further progress against this terrible disease that impacts millions of Americans every year.
Medical research funded through the NIH, the largest source of public funding for medical research in the world, has been a driving force behind many decades of advances that have improved the health of people in every state and community, providing cures and hope for patients and their caregivers. Indeed, NIH funding has contributed to the development of 354 of the 356 new drugs approved by the FDA between 2010 and 2019.
Investments in medical research can also reduce the cost of care in the future. Most of our health care dollars are spent on treating chronic diseases that could be managed more effectively with better therapies or, in some cases, prevented altogether. We can meet these challenges head-on, but in order to do so, medical research must continue to be a strong national priority.
NIH funding does more than just save lives—it fuels our economy and creates jobs in our communities. For example, in fiscal year 2023, research funded by NIH supported nearly 412,041 jobs and more than $92 billion in economic activity across the United States, supporting researchers, laboratories, hospitals, universities, and businesses large and small.
Thanks to longstanding bipartisan support of medical research, the United States is currently the world leader in scientific breakthroughs that directly benefit patients. It is our sincere hope that our country will maintain its impactful position so that more lives can be saved here and around the world.