Please take 2 minutes today to ask Congress to defend the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) against threats to their funding. Over the past few months, various proposals from both Congress and the Administration to reduce or freeze NIH and NSF funding have severely threatened the advancement of science. 

Short-sighted calculations on reducing federal spending undermine the vital research conducted by psychologists across the country. This hinders our ability to advance scientific knowledge, develop effective treatments, diagnostic tools, and preventive interventions for mental and behavioral health conditions. Such policies jeopardize the well-being of individuals, families, and communities nationwide who rely on psychological research to improve their lives.

A Wall Street Journal exposé provided a recent example of how persistent threats have been to NIH funding when it revealed that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ordered NIH to “pause” all new research grants, affecting thousands of studies, including psychological and mental health research, cancer, Alzheimer’s, infectious disease, and more. While the Administration reversed this freeze so that it is no longer in effect at the time of this writing, it came on top of additional problematic proposals, such as not reimbursing essential research costs. NSF has also terminated critical research grants and many of these initiatives are grappling with some of the most vexing challenges we face as a nation.  This underscores why Congress needs to step up to its responsibility to provide strong funding to our federal science agencies and ensure that funding is disbursed properly.

Every voice matters! Your efforts today can help make a difference. Please act now to ensure the NIH and NSF can continue fueling innovations that improve – and save – lives. 

Please join APA Services in asking Congress to stand up for NIH and NSF.

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