Senator Bernie Sanders has released a report detailing what he describes as former President Donald Trump’s attacks on science and their impact on public health. The report highlights significant funding cuts and restrictions on scientific communication.
Sanders, the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, stated that Trump has engaged in an “unprecedented, illegal and outrageous attack on science.” He emphasized the importance of resisting these actions due to their potential impact on public health.
The report notes that $2.7 billion was cut from National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in early 2025, including a 31 percent reduction in cancer research funding compared to the previous year. Sanders criticized these cuts as detrimental to those affected by cancer.
Interviews conducted by the HELP Committee Minority Staff with federal scientists reveal concerns about suppression of scientific communication and disruption in clinical care at NIH facilities. One doctor highlighted issues such as purging data from public health agency websites.
The report also points out arbitrary firings within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), affecting divisions like the FDA’s generic drug program and CDC teams responding to environmental threats. These actions have reportedly delayed critical treatments for patients with advanced cancer.
Sanders criticized Trump’s handling of vaccines during a major measles outbreak and disputed claims made by Elon Musk regarding deaths related to foreign aid freezes. According to researchers cited in the report, nearly 200,000 people have died due to these policies.
In his concluding remarks, Sanders urged Congress, scientists, and citizens to oppose what he calls Trump’s “war on science,” asserting that it is detrimental not only to Americans but also globally.
