March 2017

Yesterday, President Trump released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2018, outlining a set of budget priorities that are radically out of touch with the American public. 

President Trump has proposed cutting funds for the National Institutes of Health by 19 percent.  If enacted, the budget would bring scientific research at universities across the U.S. to a standstill and lead to massive job losses at universities and medical centers.  Worse still, it would delay research breakthroughs on a broad range of serious medical conditions that affect millions of Americans, including those with lung disorders.

The President has proposed a 31 percent cut in EPA funding, slashing pollution reduction and research programs.  If enacted, President Trump's budget will mean more toxic air pollution, more climate-altering pollution and more adverse health effects caused by environmental exposures. 

ATS President David Gozal, MD, MBA, commented: "The President's budget proposal is bad for health, bad for science, bad for the environment and bad for America.  The ATS urges more responsible voices in Congress to restore sanity to the federal budget."

The President's budget is just the first step in a long process to establish federal spending priorities.  The ATS will be actively working with bipartisan Congressional supporters of health, science and environment programs to oppose these draconian cuts. Additionally, ATS members will be in Washington DC next week to meet directly with Members of Congress to express the ATS's strong support for federal research funding and public health programs.