All articles tagged with #funding cut
The U.S. government is canceling nearly $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development, citing concerns about risks and effectiveness, which could hinder progress in fighting diseases like COVID, HIV, and cancer, despite the technology's proven success and potential for future breakthroughs.
The Trump administration has withdrawn $4 billion in federal funding for California's long-delayed high-speed rail project, criticizing it as a costly and ineffective 'boondoggle,' while California officials vow to oppose the move and continue pursuing the project.
NPR and Colorado public radio stations filed a lawsuit against President Trump and his administration over an executive order to cut federal funding to NPR and PBS, citing threats to public media and free press, with NPR emphasizing the importance of defending editorial independence amid potential retaliation.
Lionel Messi did not play in Inter Miami's friendly match in Hong Kong, leading to disappointment among fans and potential funding cuts for the event organizers. The Hong Kong government expressed extreme disappointment and stated that the organizers may face a reduction in funding after Messi's absence. Organizers claimed they were unaware of Messi and Suarez's unavailability prior to the match, while Miami's head coach cited their injuries as the reason for not playing. Despite the absence of the star players, adoring fans flocked to the stadium, and Messi can expect similar scenes in Tokyo for their next friendly match.
Texas Republican Rep. Michael McCaul defended the Trump administration's decision to cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) after accusations that its staffers were involved in a terror attack in Israel. The U.S., United Kingdom, and other Western powers cut funding to UNRWA following the allegations, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praising the move as "an important step in holding UNRWA accountable." UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed the termination of nine employees and called for nations to resume their support, while Rep. McCaul requested the UNRWA commissioner-general to appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee for further investigation.
Germany's Constitutional Court has ruled that the far-right Homeland party can have its state funding cut, despite not being banned, due to its aim to undermine the democratic system. This decision has sparked debate about whether the popular hardliner Alternative for Germany (AfD) party may face similar penalties. The ruling comes amid a surge in support for the AfD, which has faced controversy over reported discussions of policies such as mass deportations. The decision to cut funding to Die Heimat is seen as a signal that anti-democratic forces will not be funded by the state, as right-wing extremism is considered the greatest extremist threat to German democracy.
Lawmakers in California are urging NASA to reverse its decision to cut funding for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, stating that it would result in the loss of hundreds of jobs and the cancellation of billions of dollars in contracts. The mission, which aims to launch a spacecraft from the surface of Mars in 2030, is considered a national space exploration priority due to its scientific and strategic importance, particularly in the context of competition with China and Russia. Lawmakers argue that the funding cut is short-sighted and would hinder scientific progress and technological innovation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reducing funding to states for child vaccination programs, citing a significant change to their budget. The funding cut comes as a result of the debt ceiling deal struck by the Biden administration and Congress, which rescinded unspent federal money allocated for COVID-19 response. The reduction in funding may lead to less complete reporting on vaccinations and could impact programs that identify vulnerable communities and prevent disease outbreaks. The budget cut comes at a time when the number of children getting vaccinated has dropped, and public health officials express concerns about the potential impact on low-income families.