The Respiratory Impact of Federal Funding Cuts

May 2, 2025

In an action led by the American Lung Association, the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and other respiratory societies expressed concerns over federal funding freezes and their potential impact on patients.

In the letter to members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, the organizations representing the respiratory community outlined concerns with the implications of several recently announced policies impacting the staffing and operations of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These newly dictated policies from NIH include federal travel bans, significant reductions in force, suspension of federal scientific communications, and funding freezes.

The impact of the NIH policies will be particularly devastating for respiratory health research because of:

• Delayed treatments
• Interrupted research pipelines
• Deterred scientific talent
• Economic consequences
• Breakdown in scientific collaboration
• Politicalization of science

For a detailed explanation of the concerns listed above, read the full letter.