Susan G. Komen Deeply Concerned About Proposed Cuts in FY26 Federal Budget Proposal

May 02, 2025 at 13:16 PM EDT

Drastic Funding Reductions of Cancer Screening and Research Programs Threaten Lives and Reverse Decades of Progress

Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, is deeply alarmed by the Trump Administration’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 (FY26) which would eliminate all funding for critical cancer prevention and control programs, including the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), and significantly cut life-saving research at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

An estimated 319,750 people in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 43,000 will die from the disease this year alone. Regular screening enables us to detect potential cancers at earlier stages and refer patients to further care, often yielding better outcomes for patients and resulting in decreased financial pressure on our healthcare system.

Congress established NBCCEDP which assists individuals with low-incomes and no or inadequate insurance gain access to breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services that are free or low-cost. For over 30 years, NBCCEDP funded programs have served more than 6.4 million people and provided more than 16.5 million breast and cervical cancer screening examinations. To date, NBCCEDP has diagnosed over 79,000 invasive breast cancers, over 25,000 premalignant breast lesions, more than 5,000 invasive cervical cancers, and over 248,000 premalignant cervical lesions. Without access to early detection programs, many people who are uninsured are forced to delay or forgo screenings, which could lead to late-stage breast cancer diagnoses. This delay can mean that a person may not seek care until the cancer has spread beyond the breast, making it up to five times more expensive, harder to treat, and more likely to result in poor outcomes.

Investment in early detection is an investment in not just the patient’s future but a more efficient healthcare system. Unfortunately, the President’s FY26 budget proposal does not invest in the American people’s fight against breast cancer. The budget proposal would end federal funding for NBCCEDP in addition to other incredibly important programs to the cancer community, including the National Program of Cancer Registries, the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, and the Colorectal Cancer Control Program. If adopted, the FY26 budget proposal will set the cancer screening and detection back decades and result in increased deaths from cancer.

In addition to proposing to eliminate NBCCEDP funding, the proposal would decimate investment in medical research at the NIH. Biomedical research has been the driving force behind decades of advances that have improved the health of people in every corner of America – including the lives of those affected by breast cancer, leading to new and better cures, diagnostics, and preventive interventions – and has positioned the United States as the global leader in biomedical breakthroughs, the development of new technologies, and innovative treatments. Additionally, NIH research funding helps fuel economic growth— every dollar invested by the NIH in research generates $2.56 in new economic activity. Alarmingly, proposed cuts are already prompting top scientific talent to consider careers outside the U.S. Put simply, cuts of this magnitude to NIH are shortsighted for both the American healthcare system and the economy.

Komen urges Congress to work in a bicameral, bipartisan manner to fund the federal government with robust investments in our nation’s health. While we support a healthcare and public health system that works efficiently and effectively for everyone—slashing funding across HHS is dangerous and will harm the breast cancer community. Federal investments in early detection and research are not just compassionate—they are practical, cost-effective, and essential to the health of the nation.

About Susan G. Komen^®

Susan G. Komen^® is the world’s leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, working to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting this disease across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the U.S. and in countries worldwide. We advocate for patients, drive research breakthroughs, improve access to high-quality care, offer direct patient support and empower people with trustworthy information. Founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life, Komen remains committed to supporting those affected by breast cancer today, while tirelessly searching for tomorrow’s cures. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at www.komen.org/contact-us/follow-us/.