Woman’s life-saving treatment delayed by Trump cuts to NIH: ‘Cancer shouldn’t be political’

Natalie Phelps, a 34-year-old lung cancer patient whose public criticism of NIH budget cuts led to congressional hearings and media exposure, now faces delayed treatment, originally scheduled for mid-June but rescheduled until after July due to staffing reductions and budget cuts. The cuts have hurt other researchers, causing job losses and canceled clinical trials in oncology, with internal emails revealing conflicting statements about eligibility criteria and recruitment efforts. These administrative challenges highlight the critical need for adequate funding to ensure timely treatments and scientific progress.