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Donald Trump coming into office has really shaken our country, especially with his proposed budget cuts. Two of my peers have been directly affected by the proposed cut to the National Institute of Health (NIH) funding. The NIH provides funding for 2,600 institutions, in addition to thousands of universities, and provides over 300,000 jobs for scientists in disease research.
Trump's proposal would cut funding by 20 percent, or $6 billion. One of my peers has dreamt of being a scientist. It is hard to get funding as a young scientist and this makes it even harder. In a field that is already competitive and hard to break into, there is now the factor that new ideas will not have the chance to be heard. Now she and other young scientists must rethink their career because of this.
At the receiving end of this research, this funding directly impacts people who have been affected by cancer, mental illness and any other type of illness. My other peer's entire family is effected by diabetes. They depend on this research for a better understanding of the disease and improved treatments. The hope of a cure is now delayed.
Planning a budget is a complicated issue but it is important to protect the funding that is vital for health care. This proposed budget cut would filter more money into the defense plan, but what good is higher defense if there are no people to defend?
Analise Forbush
Provo