Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
MaddowBlog-On mRNA vaccine research, Congress is prepared to work around RFK Jr.
After Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cut off funding for mRNA vaccine research, lawmakers advanced a spending plan that would work around him.
Maddow Blog | On mRNA vaccine research, Congress is prepared to work around RFK Jr.
— Irish News 🇮🇪 (@news-flows-ir.bsky.social) 2025-09-11T15:13:15.000000Z
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/mrna-vaccine-research-congress-prepared-work-rfk-jr-rcna230595
But now members of Congress appear eager to make new investments in mRNA research anyway. Stat News reported:
Last month, the conspiratorially-minded Cabinet secretary specifically said that the Center for Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (generally known as BARDA) would no longer finance mRNA research. To that end, Kennedy’s department terminated nearly $500 million in grants.
The Republican-led House Appropriations Committee is nevertheless advancing a revised spending package that would invest $1.1 billion for “advanced research and development” at BARDA, including mRNA vaccines......
The same Times report added that mRNA research has raised hopes of possible treatments — perhaps even cures — for deadly cancers and a host of genetic and chronic diseases.
Even Trump himself has celebrated mRNA vaccines — the president explicitly referred to them as a “modern-day miracle” — before he put the nation’s public health infrastructure in the hands of a guy who has claimed, among other things, that Wi-Fi causes “leaky brain.”
The more lawmakers take steps to circumvent RFK Jr., the better.
House appropriators have snubbed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by including an amendment in their 2026 spending bill that specifically funds continued messenger RNA vaccine research, despite his effort to roll it back.
Last month, the conspiratorially-minded Cabinet secretary specifically said that the Center for Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (generally known as BARDA) would no longer finance mRNA research. To that end, Kennedy’s department terminated nearly $500 million in grants.
The Republican-led House Appropriations Committee is nevertheless advancing a revised spending package that would invest $1.1 billion for “advanced research and development” at BARDA, including mRNA vaccines......
The same Times report added that mRNA research has raised hopes of possible treatments — perhaps even cures — for deadly cancers and a host of genetic and chronic diseases.
Even Trump himself has celebrated mRNA vaccines — the president explicitly referred to them as a “modern-day miracle” — before he put the nation’s public health infrastructure in the hands of a guy who has claimed, among other things, that Wi-Fi causes “leaky brain.”
The more lawmakers take steps to circumvent RFK Jr., the better.
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Kick in to the DU tip jar?
This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.
As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.