Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday, August 5 the termination of nearly $500 million in federal funding for mRNA vaccine development, affecting 22 projects and major pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca.
The decision marks a significant shift in U.S. pandemic preparedness strategy and has drawn sharp criticism from public health experts nationwide.
Kennedy justified the cuts by claiming that mRNA technology poses more risk than benefits for these respiratory viruses. He argued that a single mutation can render mRNA vaccines ineffective and announced plans to redirect funding toward what he described as safer vaccine platforms that remain effective against mutating viruses.
The funding cuts specifically target projects within the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, terminating contracts with institutions including Emory University and Tiba Biotech. The decision also affects proposals from major vaccine manufacturers and restructures existing agreements with companies that had been developing mRNA-based vaccines for influenza, COVID-19, and potential pandemic threats like bird flu.
Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, characterized the decision as the most dangerous public health decision he has witnessed in his 50-year career. He emphasized that mRNA technology could produce enough vaccine for global coverage within one year during a pandemic, compared to the current 15-month timeline using traditional methods that would only cover one-fourth of the world’s population.
The cuts extend beyond pandemic preparedness to impact promising cancer research applications. A 2023 clinical trial at Sloan Kettering using mRNA vaccine technology to boost immune system response in pancreatic cancer patients showed improvements in approximately 50 percent of participants. Jeff Coller, professor of RNA biology and therapeutics at Johns Hopkins University, described this as potentially the beginning of a cure for pancreatic cancer, where half the patients in the study survived.
Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism predates his current position. He previously chaired the anti-vaccine advocacy group Children’s Health Defense until 2023 and has made controversial statements comparing vaccination programs to Nazi-era crimes. During his tenure as health secretary, he has already dismissed all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s scientific advisory panel on vaccines, replacing them with his own selections.
A detailed analysis of Kennedy’s scientific justification revealed significant flaws in his reasoning. The 181-page document cited as evidence was compiled by outside authors, with the lead compiler being a dentist rather than an immunologist or vaccine expert. Most studies referenced examined spike protein effects from SARS-CoV-2 infection rather than vaccination, with several papers actually concluding that vaccination benefits outweigh risks.
The funding termination affects research into various applications of mRNA technology beyond vaccines. Experimental treatments have shown promise for lung, colorectal, and gastric cancers, with studies demonstrating robust tumor regression in laboratory settings. Additionally, mRNA research targets autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, who was nominated by Trump and sworn in as director on April 1, 2025, defended the decision by arguing that public distrust makes the mRNA platform no longer viable for vaccine applications. He contended that a platform distrusted by a large population fraction cannot effectively function for public health purposes, regardless of its scientific merits.
The World Health Organization described the U.S. decision to end mRNA vaccine contracts as a significant blow to global health preparedness. International health experts expressed concern that the move could discourage investors and scientists worldwide from continuing mRNA research, potentially slowing innovation in one of medicine’s most promising areas.
Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, noted that mRNA technology has a well-established safety profile across diverse populations, including young children, babies, and pregnant women. He emphasized that this safety background enables advancement in multiple medical applications that could benefit vulnerable populations.
The decision represents a departure from the Trump administration’s first-term support for Operation Warp Speed, which facilitated rapid mRNA vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health experts noted the contradiction between previous praise for the program’s accomplishments and current efforts to undermine the technology that made those achievements possible.
