Former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse disclosed on December 23, 2025, that he has been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer, which has spread to other areas of his body, sharing this information in a straightforward social media post.
In his post on X, Sasse detailed the diagnosis he received the previous week and mentioned that he will start receiving treatment, including chemotherapy, the following week. He also expressed optimism about new treatments like immunotherapy.
The announcement prompted reactions from political figures across party lines. Senate Republican Leader John Thune offered his support in a social media response to Sasse’s revelation.
Similarly, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer expressed his support for his former Senate colleague, despite their political differences during Sasse’s time in office.
Sasse served as a Republican Senator from Nebraska from 2015 to 2023, then left to become president of the University of Florida. While his tenure at the university later became controversial, attention is now focused on his health.
He resigned as president of the University of Florida, citing his wife’s health as the reason, a decision made before reports surfaced of significant spending during his tenure.
Sasse’s time at the University of Florida drew scrutiny after the Independent Florida Alligator reported on a financial scandal related to his office’s expenses, raising concerns about the university’s accountability and oversight.
A preliminary audit by the Florida Auditor General revealed that Sasse’s office spent $14.8 million during the 2023-24 academic year, a 72 percent increase from the previous year. The audit showed that $6.4 million was paid to consultant firms and $563,825 was spent on catering for eight events.
According to the audit, 24 individuals were hired by Sasse’s office between February 6, 2023, and June 30, 2024, with annual salaries ranging from $75,000 to $687,000, averaging $249,931. Records indicated that 14 of these positions lacked job descriptions, raising questions about hiring practices.
Additionally, 13 employees of the University of Florida worked remotely from various states, including California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., prompting discussions about work expectations and resource allocation.
Despite stepping down from his role as president, Sasse will retain his annual base salary of $1 million as a professor and adviser (while also holding the courtesy title of president emeritus) until February 2028, a decision that has drawn criticism given his brief tenure and related spending issues.
A final audit report from the Florida Auditor General was issued in February 2025, offering further insights into the financial practices during Sasse’s time as president.
Sasse’s selection as the only finalist for the University of Florida president position was contentious from the start. In October 2022, students protested his candidacy at Emerson Alumni Hall, interrupting a forum intended for the university community to engage with the prospective leader.
The student forum was disrupted by the protest, which forced the event to end prematurely. Subsequently, university administrators shifted an employee session online to avoid similar interruptions.
Sasse’s announcement is part of a broader trend of public figures openly discussing their health challenges, using their platforms to highlight serious illnesses and engage with the public about their diagnoses.
