The US government has cut funding for mRNA vaccine research, sparking concerns that it may hinder future medical breakthroughs and accelerate a brain drain. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) would pull nearly $500 million worth of contracts with universities, drug companies, and other labs working on new mRNA vaccines.
Scientists warn that this decision is short-sighted and could put the US at a disadvantage globally. Jerome Adams, former surgeon general during Trump’s first administration, stated that walking away from mRNA technology now would be like pulling funding from antibiotics or computers after they were invented. He added that the technology has been proven safe and effective in large scientific trials and real-world data.
The decision is also sparking concerns about the country’s ability to respond quickly to new viral pandemic threats. Cynthia Leifer, a professor of immunology at Cornell University, noted that mRNA technology allowed for rapid deployment of COVID vaccines and could enable faster development of new vaccines to protect people during ongoing pandemics.
However, Kennedy’s other changes have already started to steer promising international scientific talent away from the US. The cuts are also part of a broader trend of stifling innovation, with some experts warning that progress could be lost if funding for mRNA research is not reinstated.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/08/10/rfk-jrs-vaccine-pullback-stokes-fears-of-lost-medical-breakthroughs