Seventy-One Percent of Registered Voters Want Congress to Increase NIH Budget, Federal Spending on Medical Research: New National Poll

Nearly 3 in 5 registered voters say they’d vote to replace their Member of Congress if they backed cuts to medical research

(WASHINGTON – September 18, 2025) Seventy-one percent of registered voters believe federal funding for medical research on cures for cancer and other debilitating health issues should increase according to a new national poll.

The Morning Consult survey commissioned by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) found that 75% of voters said they supported providing $51 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) “for research into cures for cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, blood disorders, and other debilitating health issues" – including 68% of those who voted for Trump.

The poll also found that NIH funding is a decisive issue for voters: 60% said they would vote to replace their Member of Congress if that member supported cuts to medical research. Forty-two percent said they would “definitely” vote for another candidate if their lawmaker voted to cut NIH’s budget.

The administration proposed deep cuts to the NIH budget in May of 40%, or approximately $18 billion. The U.S. House of Representatives is working on an appropriations bill that would give NIH a $48 billion budget in Fiscal Year 2026.

“The message from voters is clear: Americans across the political spectrum want more investment in medical research, not less,” said Belinda R. Avalos, MD, president of the American Society of Hematology. “They clearly understand that cutting NIH’s funding will stall progress toward cures and betray the hopes of millions. Congress must reaffirm its commitment to research and the health of all Americans.”

Additional findings from the survey:

NIH is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world and has driven decades of scientific breakthroughs that have directly improved the health of Americans, including those with blood disorders. Federal funding of NIH has enabled the development of gene therapies for sickle cell disease and CAR T-cell therapies for blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.

ASH has launched enhanced advocacy efforts and the public awareness campaign #Fight4Hematology to engage its members, patients, and the public across the country to speak up to safeguard the future of hematology research and medical research advances.

For more information, visit Hematology.org/ResearchSavesLives.

Visual Breakdown of Survey Results
NIH Impact State-by-State Fact Sheets

Methodology
This poll was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Society of Hematology. 1,678 nationwide registered voters were interviewed online between August 19th and August 21st, 2025, with results from the full sample yielding a confidence interval of +/- 2%. Confidence intervals for subgroups are larger. The data were weighed to approximate a target sample of registered voters based on gender, educational attainment, age, race/ethnicity, 2024 presidential vote, and region.

About The American Society of Hematology

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) (hematology.org) is the world’s largest professional society of hematologists dedicated to furthering the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood. Since 1958, the Society has led the development of hematology as a discipline by promoting research, patient care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. Join the #Fight4Hematology by visiting hematology.org/fight4hematology.

The ASH Foundation (hematology.org/foundation) supports progress in hematology through charitable funding for research, career development, education, and quality care. Every donation directly supports ASH-sponsored programs, including the #Fight4Hematology.

Contact: Claire Whetzel, 202-629-5085
[email protected]