The Trump administration has quietly axed funding for research into the impacts of climate change on human health, according to a recent report by ProPublica. The move, which was confirmed by internal records, directs staff at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to stop funding new academic programs or research into the health effects of climate change.

This decision comes on the heels of news last month that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) halted funding for three existing climate and health programs at NIH, including the Climate Change and Health Initiative launched in 2021. The initiative supported research into the health effects of wildfires, heat stress, and virus transmissions through mosquitoes, among other projects.

Public health advocates are sounding the alarm, warning that this move threatens efforts to protect Americans from more extreme weather and other disasters made worse by climate change. "This is a direct attack on our health, on the science that keeps us protected," said Juan Declet-Barreto, Bilingual Senior Social Scientist for Climate Vulnerability at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The consequences of climate change on human health are far-reaching and well-documented. A growing body of evidence points to mounting health risks posed by climate change, including poorer air quality, hotter days, and lifelong social and community disruptions. According to a US policy brief from health journal The Lancet, kids born in 2024 can expect to face a range of climate-related health challenges throughout their lives.

Smog, for instance, forms when air pollutants react with each other in sunlight, and hot, sunny days speed up that chemical reaction. Climate change is expected to lead to more smog across much of the US, which can be detrimental to respiratory health and exacerbate existing conditions like asthma or COPD. Extreme heat is already the leading weather-related killer in the US, and climate change is intensifying heatwaves, storms, and floods.

In response to criticism, HHS deputy press secretary Emily Hilliard said in an email, "HHS is taking action to terminate research funding that is not aligned with NIH and HHS priorities. At HHS, we are dedicated to restoring our agencies to their tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science." However, many are skeptical of the administration's motives, given President Trump's history of denying climate change and accepting funding from the oil and gas industry.

Since taking office, Trump has moved quickly to stop funding for clean energy and climate action and roll back dozens of regulations on pollution, moves that advocates warn put Americans' health at risk. The decision to axe funding for climate and health research at NIH is seen as part of a broader pattern of ignoring the science and prioritizing fossil fuel interests.

The implications of this move are far-reaching and could have devastating consequences for public health and safety. As the climate crisis continues to worsen, it is more important than ever that we prioritize evidence-based research and take action to protect Americans from the health risks posed by climate change.