WASHINGTON, D.C. — This morning, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) published an opinion piece in the News-Gazette in collaboration with Urbana Alderwoman Chaundra Bishop discussing the Trump Administration’s attempt to drastically reduce funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The piece highlights what these cuts mean for patients like Alderwoman Bishop, who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer at age 29.
Budzinski writes, “Now, I understand the importance of finding efficiencies in government. I get the need to lower the deficit, root out instances of fraud, and cut red tape. But cutting NIH funding isn’t trimming fat—it’s cutting deep into the muscle of our medical system. And for patients with rare cancers like cholangiocarcinoma, it could mean the difference between living in constant pain, and finding a cure.”
The full piece is available HERE and below:
When Funding Cuts Go Too Far
By Rep. Nikki Budzinski
Urbana Alderwoman Chaundra Bishop was just 29 when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma—a rare and aggressive cancer in the bile ducts inside the liver. No one expects to face that kind of news, especially not at such a young age.
She started with traditional chemotherapy and later underwent a surgery that involved removing 60 percent of her liver to get rid of the cancer in that part of her body. It seemed like a real step forward. But that same year, more tumors showed up in her lungs.
Fast forward to today, Chaundra has enrolled in every clinical trial she can find. She’s undergone countless treatments, faced excruciating pain, and is still waiting for a cure.
While Chaundra hasn’t found that cure yet, she has seen progress. In the last five years, she’s had access to promising new therapies—many made possible by increased funding and breakthroughs in medical research.
That’s why the Trump administration’s decision to drastically reduce funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical trials hit so hard.
For people like Chaundra, these types of announcements are life or death. For those of us in Congress, they’re a call to action.
Since taking office, President Trump has led a campaign to slash federal spending under the banner of eliminating “waste, fraud, and abuse.” But some of those cuts go too far. He first tried to cap NIH grant funding for indirect costs—things like lab equipment, facilities, and staff—at just 15%. At first glance, that might not sound like much, but those indirect costs are the foundation of research. Without them, labs can’t run, staff can’t work, and studies can’t move forward.
That move was blocked—for now—by a judge. But the threat still looms, especially for major research institutions here at home like the University of Illinois.
In April, the administration sent layoff notices to thousands of employees in the Department of Health and Human Services. As a result, the NIH stands to lose about 6% of its workforce.
Five institute directors and top lab leaders were forced out in a recent shake-up—scientists who helped decide which diseases we study and which treatments we develop. The administration claimed NIH scientists wouldn’t be affected. But researchers were let go.
Now, I understand the importance of finding efficiencies in government. I get the need to lower the deficit, root out instances of fraud and cut red tape.
But cutting NIH funding isn’t trimming fat—it’s cutting deep into the muscle of our medical system. And for patients with rare cancers like cholangiocarcinoma, it could mean the difference between living in constant pain, and finding a cure.
Chaundra is part of a support group for patients in similar situations. Some are in NIH trials. Others are hoping to join. They share links to trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov, hoping for a shot at something that could buy them more time.
But now there’s fear in those circles: Will that trial still be there tomorrow? What if the doctor leading the study loses funding midway through? What if they were this close to a breakthrough, and the money just ran out?
Even small funding cuts can impact patients in big ways—by delaying trials, limiting access, or reducing the number of participants a study can accept.
Some patients find a trial because their doctor brings it to them. Others do the research themselves and bring the trial to their doctor. Either way, the system depends on support and stability—and right now, both are being threatened.
Chaundra is one of those patients. She recently traveled to Texas for treatment after discovering a promising trial. She brought it to her doctor in Chicago, who coordinated with the team down south. Thankfully, the trial covered her travel and lodging costs.
Chaundra knows she’s one of the fortunate ones. She has good insurance and the means to cover additional expenses when needed. But for countless others, that’s simply not the case.
With Medicaid funding at risk, the uncertainty grows even deeper. Last week, I visited community health centers across my district—from Carlinville to Champaign—to learn how Republicans’ proposed Medicaid cuts would affect their ability to care for patients. And I’ve spoken to individuals relying on Medicaid who simply have no other options.
These cuts, these executive orders, these quiet decisions from the White House—they’re impacting people in real, immediate ways. They’re affecting the care our friends, family, and neighbors rely on—care that could mean another year, another month, or even another day.
We cannot let short sighted policy decisions derail decades of medical progress, especially for cancer patients like Chaundra. We must ensure that every patient has a fighting chance for a better and healthier life. Now more than ever before, that’s exactly what I plan to do.
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