Updated 3/12/25, 11am
Last night, the House approved the continuing resolution — including the 57% CDMRP cut — to fund the government through September 30 with a final vote of 217-213. The measure still needs to pass the Senate, however, where it will need bipartisan support to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold. 

Given this, we are asking UMDF advocates to reach out to your Senators with the same message — vote NO and instead approve a full-year FY25 Defense Appropriations Act that fully funds CDMRP and continues to support life-saving mitochondrial disease research.

Posted 3/10/25, 11:55am

CALL YOUR U.S. HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE
Ask Them to Oppose the 57% Cut to Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs 
Vote NO on the FY25 Continuing Resolution 

This coming week, the House will vote on a continuing resolution to fund government programs through the end of fiscal year 2025 (FY25).

Unfortunately, this legislation proposes a dramatic cut to the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), slashing funding from $1.509 billion to $650 million — a 57 percent reduction from the FY24 enacted level.

These cuts would have a particularly devastating impact on research into mitochondrial disease, which has been an eligible area of funding through CDMRP since FY2015. Mitochondrial diseases are a group of rare and often fatal conditions that affect the energy-producing structures in cells, and they have significant relevance to the health of U.S. service members, veterans, and their families. The Department of Defense has already invested over $70 million in mitochondrial disease research, leading to critical advancements in understanding the genetic causes, neurological effects, and potential treatments for these conditions.

With such a severe reduction in funding, many of these vital research projects would be at risk of being delayed or even abandoned. This would prevent critical progress in developing life-changing treatments for patients, including military personnel and veterans who are disproportionately affected by mitochondrial diseases.

A vote in favor of this legislation is, in effect, a vote to halt critical research into mitochondrial disease and other vital medical fields. Please vote NO and instead approve a full-year FY25 Defense Appropriations Act that fully funds CDMRP and continues to support life-saving mitochondrial disease research.

Due to the timely nature of this request, we are asking you to CALL versus email. Click here to find your representative’s information.