WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Trump administration is scrapping dozens of federally funded vaccine research projects cutting nearly half a billion dollars in funding aimed at combating respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 and the flu.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week that it will terminate 22 vaccine development programs, many of them focused on advancing mRNA technology.
“HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who defended the decision as part of a broader effort to redirect federal health spending. “We’re prioritizing vaccine platforms like whole-virus vaccines that don’t collapse when viruses mutate,” he added.
The move comes amid a rise in outbreaks of diseases such as measles, prompting backlash from leading public health experts.
Dr. Tyler B. Evans, CEO of the Wellness Equity Alliance, called the cuts short-sighted and dangerous.
“The current decisions by the HHS Secretary are hurting America,” Evans said. “Viruses don’t know state lines. They don’t know red or blue. They just see humans.”
Critics argue that the decision marks a sharp reversal from President Trump’s first term, when Operation Warp Speed helped fast-track the development and deployment of mRNA vaccines, which became a cornerstone of the U.S. COVID-19 response.
Public health experts worry the loss of funding could undercut preparedness for future pandemics, particularly as new variants of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses continue to emerge.
The administration has not released details on where the reallocated funds will be spent, but officials say future health initiatives will focus on “durable, adaptable” solutions.