On Wednesday, May 14, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testified before the House and Senate in two hearings regarding President Trump’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2026. The first hearing, organized by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies (LHHS) in the US House of Representatives, covered numerous public health issues under the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee including funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which the president proposed cutting by nearly forty percent in FY 2026. During the hearing, Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) challenged Secretary Kennedy on the proposed cuts to NIH and whether the imposition of these cuts would prevent NIH from supporting research. Secretary Kennedy maintained that funds would be spent this year according to law, but also defended the administration’s proposed cuts, claiming that consolidation of institutes and centers within NIH would enhance efficiencies and enable the agency to “do much more with less”. The Endocrine Society strongly opposes the proposed $17.965 billion cut to NIH, which would be devastating for biomedical research and human health.
The second hearing, organized by the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), focused on the mass layoffs at HHS, funding cuts, and the administration’s vaccine policy. Secretary Kennedy highlighted how the budget will advance President Trump’s agenda and the $500 million “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, which aims to tackle chronic diseases through nutrition, physical activity, and working with the FDA to improve food quality and safety. During the hearing, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) challenged Secretary Kennedy on the sweeping layoffs at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and cuts in funding for the NIH. The Endocrine Society worries the reduced staffing will impede NIH’s ability to review grant applications, fund research, and run needed programs. Secretary Kennedy noted he pushed back on some cuts and has reinstated a few programs cut mistakenly, though he declined to comment on reorganization efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Endocrine Society is concerned about how the reorganization efforts will hinder important public health functions and research related to chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity and other endocrine conditions, including thyroid disease, osteoporosis, infertility, endocrine cancers, and growth disorders. We have shared our concern with lawmakers about the cancelation of the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS) at NIH as an example of how the broad approach to cutting by the administration is actually harming valuable, bipartisan research on chronic disease. We continue to advocate for the administration to restore funding for this critical research being conducted at 30 institutions across 21 states.
The Endocrine Society will continue to advocate for steady, sustained funding for NIH and other critical public health programs. We strongly oppose the President’s proposed budget and efforts to restructure the Nation’s public health and biomedical research enterprise without Congressional oversight or stakeholder input. We are urging Congress to: 1) exercise its oversight authority to demand that HHS halt any pending restructuring changes to the NIH and instead provide a scientific and policy rationale for these changes with an opportunity for Congress and stakeholder comment before their implementation; 2) investigate the cause of current disruptions to grant funding and demand HHS reestablish effective processes for the review of grants and distribution of funds to support new and ongoing peer-reviewed research; and, 3) ensure that funds are spent as appropriators intend.
This week, the Endocrine Society endorsed legislation introduced in the Senate that would address the Medicare physician payment cut that went into effect earlier this year. The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, which was introduced by Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), would provide an 8.51% increase to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) conversion factor. The increase would be in effect from June 1 through December 31, 2025, and would be intended to offset and exceed the 2.83% cut to physician payment that took effect on January 1, 2025. The Society endorsed similar legislation that was introduced in the House earlier this year by Representatives Greg Murphy (R-NC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). The Society will continue to advocate for Congress to rescind the 2.83% cut and provide an inflationary update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
The Society relies on your voice to advocate for our policy priorities. Currently, federally funded research is in jeopardy, and we need your help to educate the Congress so it will address this. We encourage our US members to participate in one or more of the campaigns below by clicking the hyperlink so we can show our strength as a community that cares about endocrinology.
The administration abruptly cancelled all National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for the Diabetes Prevention Program. The loss of this ongoing research, which was being conducted at 30 institutions in 21 states, has impacted tens of millions of people who have Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes nationwide. This program has followed thousands of participants since its creation in 1996 and has provided an important source of long-term information on diabetes prevention.
Congress is in the process of determining funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). This will affect all researchers who receive grant funding from NIH. Funding for NIH is at risk as the administration and some Members of Congress are seeking cuts to federal support for biomedical research. The Endocrine Society is urging Congress to continue its bipartisan support for NIH and provide the agency with at least $51.303 billion.
Since January, there have been multiple actions cutting current federal funding of research. This includes efforts to limit indirect costs for NIH grants to 15%, cease ongoing research, and block funds to specific universities. These efforts have caused major harm to institution budgets, jeopardized lifesaving medical research, caused layoffs, suspended clinical trials, and disrupted ongoing research and laboratory support programs. While federal judges have blocked these actions at least temporarily, we are concerned there will be further efforts to cut federal funding of research.
In celebration of Mother’s Day, we have a special advocacy campaign for mothers to join. Mothers have special influence on Capitol Hill; it is hard for a Member of Congress not to listen to a mother advocating for research. Consequently, we are calling on all mothers to urge Congress to protect NIH funding. Please share this opportunity with mothers you know and encourage them to participate.
We rely on your voice to advocate for our policy priorities. Join us to show our strength as a community that cares about endocrinology. Contact your US representatives or European Members of Parliament through our online platform. Take action and make a difference today.
