Update from the Capital: Funding for the Congressionally-Directed Medical Research Program

Beginning in September of 2024, Congress passed a series of what’s known as “Continuing Resolutions” in lieu of a full set of spending bills – or budget – to fund the government for Fiscal Year 2025. A Continuing Resolution (or “CR”) typically keeps funding for every government function at the same level as the previous fiscal year, while buying more time for Congress to hopefully come to agreement on a full, new budget. The most recent CR passed on March 14, 2025 and extended Fiscal Year 2024 funding levels through the end of Fiscal Year 2025 this September. However, unlike most CRs, which are typically “clean” (meaning simply holding funding levels steady), Congress amended some spending plans. 

One of the areas Congress chose to amend was the funding levels for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) within the Department of Defense. Overall, Congress cut the CDMRP by 57%. 

As you know, NBTS – with you, our volunteer advocates – has long supported the CDMRP, specifically its Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) and, more recently, its new Glioblastoma Research Program (GBMRP). We had been advocating that Congress provide $130 million in FY25 for the PRCRP and $10 million for the GBMRP. 

Before the CR passed, NBTS had continued to urge members of Congress to support our policy priorities, including the funding for PRCRP and GBMRP, with direct appeals to congressional champions and the Secretary of Defense, as well as multiple action alerts to tell members of both chambers to finish FY25 appropriations bills.

After we learned that the CDMRP budget as a whole had been decreased in the CR, we immediately began a process to determine what that meant for the specific programs like the PRCRP and GBMRP. Here’s what we’ve learned:

1. Fortunately, the PRCRP appears to be spared from any of the cuts to the CDMRP. In recent reports from both Congress and CDMRP itself, the PRCRP is still slated to receive $130 million in FY25 and includes brain cancer and pediatric brain tumors as eligible topics for funding.
2. However, the GBMRP was not funded in FY25 like it was in FY24, when Congress appropriated $10 million for the program.

While it’s encouraging that the PRCRP will continue to be funded for the rest of FY25, the lack of a GBMRP this year is a significant disappointment. It underscores the precarious nature of government funding and makes clear the critical imperative that we, as a community, make a strong case to reinstate this funding in FY26, while still maintaining the PRCRP and other programs important to brain tumor research. 

Legislative setbacks — especially in our cause – can be difficult to accept. But history has shown that we can get back on the right track. For example, in 2015, pediatric brain tumors were inexplicably dropped as an eligible topic for funding within the PRCRP. Together, we advocated strenuously in 2016 to ensure that pediatric brain tumors were made eligible again, and we succeeded. 

We’ll need the same strength in numbers and spirit as we move forward with our advocacy effort this year. The federal government remains the largest funder of brain tumor research by far, and as Congress has just begun crafting the next set of budget bills for FY26, the time for that advocacy is now. We’ll be making our priority asks for brain tumor research funding through the CDMRP, National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute, and support for the BRAIN Act in just a few weeks when we make our annual trip to Washington for Head to the Hill. If you’re able to join, please consider doing so by registering here. If you’re unable to join us in person, make sure you’re signed up and on the lookout for our Action Alerts. 

NBTS appreciates your continued support and advocacy.

TAGGED WITH: advocacy, Brain tumor news, brain tumor advocacy

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