What would a federal freeze mean?

And, a note to clergy.

My job is nearly fully supported by an NIH federal grant. My team is 100% supported by the grant. This week has been a lot. Too much. Unnecessarily too much. I highly, highly value leadership. The kind of leader who is the calmest person in the room and doesn’t sow chaos but rather peace. A leader that makes decisions thoughtfully, methodically, and by clearly articulating the reasons behind a decision, even if a decision has to be quickly made. A servant leader. This is not what has happened this week. Is it part of the administration’s strategy to sow chaos? Or just do spit-fire, rapid decision making? Or test the guardrails of government? Either way, it is unnecessarily chaotic. Based on the reaction to my FB post last night, so many of you agree with me.

I also noticed that for many of you, the federal freeze news headlines can be confusing. For those of us in science or in jobs funded through federal means, the headlines are at the door. But for others, let me tell you a bit of what the freezes would do and why it matters as neighbors.

My day job is a dream job! I know I say it a lot. But, I’m still pinching myself that I get to do the work that I do at a great institution with great leaders and a great team. My work focuses on the intersection of poverty and children’s health (mainly cancer and surgical health issues like congenital anomalies) in places where the need is greatest. My data shows that children often come in too late for healthcare because the families can’t afford the transportation and lodging to get there. They often have to make the decision between getting chemotherapy care for one child and feeding the rest. A decision that no family should have to make.

My work focuses on making that decision obsolete.

If an NIH freeze goes through, the funding for this work stops. Including having to make hard decisions about the team. I was talking with a friend this week about her own grants in East Africa. She supports more than 30 people’s salary with her grants doing incredible work for mothers and babies. If the freeze goes through, that is in jeopardy. Global health is underfunded too, so it’s not like we have a stockpile of reserves to dip into if funds run dry.

Another friend helps children in war-torn areas get emergency medical care, food assistance, and housing if needed. Another friend leads a massive response effort keeping us safe from things like bird flu and Ebola. That stops if a freeze goes through.

Sure, we [those of us affected by the freeze] will be innovative and look for other funding sources if a freeze happens. I would hope that other funding entities or private investors would step up to the call. But, it’s unnecessary to even think through those scenarios. What is the point of doing such a widespread freeze? Being neighbors through these grants and programs is good for all of us. My book goes into detail that investing in the poorest of the poor strengthens our economies MORE than a bottom-down, capitalistic approach. Outside of an economic argument, though caring for one another is just a central tenant of humanity. And, it certainly should be of leadership.

The NIH is a landmark and longstanding entity of doing evidence-based research for the betterment of people (these are my descriptive words). Think of breakthroughs in cancer therapies, life-saving medicines and treatments, pandemic preparedness, figuring out who is affected by certain diseases and why. The medicines you take every day for arthritis, pain, or ALS, or the ones that our children take likely went through the extensive scientific rigor made possible by NIH funding. The NIH work affects all of us. A halt of all of that at once would too.

I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with friends and colleagues this week on the ramifications of a widespread freeze at the NIH. Another mentioned his work with PEPFAR to help those living with HIV. If funding is lost and the HIV treatment is interrupted, you can’t just restart it when you want. You run the risk of drug resistance, meaning the patient would have to find another drug regimen entirely (if one is available). The freeze would impact real patient’s lives. Our neighbor’s lives. Unnecessarily. The freezes, although easy to make with a stroke of pen, affect real people’s ability to continue living. That is not an overstatement.

And, this work is primarily among the most vulnerable. So, it feels unconscionable to freeze programs and funding that directly affect those that need it the most.

You’ve probably heard of other programs that could be affected. Food assistance programs, Meals on Wheels, PEPFAR (international and bipartisan supported program for HIV care), housing assistance programs, nonprofit organizations receiving federal funding, refugee settlement programs… The list could go on and on.

Do you see how it’s unequal though? Again, this funding freeze would primarily affect the most vulnerable. Let’s hope that the judge’s halt holds and we won’t see the ramifications of a freeze. **Update, the freeze was just rescinded for now. But, the unnecessary chaos has ensued.***

Regardless, we hold steady. We stand up and speak up. We can’t speak up all the time. The yelling and fighting is too much for anybody to do all the time. But there are times to collectively yell. This was one of those times. This will not last forever, the dust will settle, the noise will come down, there is good in this world. Hang in there, neighbors. You have more courage than you think you do. I guarantee it.

In solidarity,

Emily

A Note to Clergy: I know you all likely have very different strategies on what you say from the pulpits at your mosques, synagogues, churches, and other places of worship. Do you talk about politics or leave it at the door? Do you mention what’s happening in the country (if you’re in the US) or sweep it under the rug? Can I encourage you this week to take a different approach? I have found that redirecting conversations, including sermons, towards neighboring diffuses some (not all) of the divisiveness that comes with politics. So, talk about neighboring. Remind them of the scriptures and writings that talk about loving our neighbors (and how to do that). You can encourage your congregants to be neighbors in a world set up to do the opposite. You can encourage them to use their faith expressions for good and sometimes that takes courage. But, those expressions, expressed in love, is stronger than fear. And, many of them will come in with fear this week. Encourage them towards neighboring. That, in turn, encourages them to have courage and to act boldly in this world we all call home. Neighboring is surprisingly powerful!

I want to encourage you, the clergy, too to have courage this week. I also wish rest and strength for you in the coming days. Some of you lead in spaces that are hard to talk about neighboring. Oh boy, do I understand that. I have such empathy for you if that’s the case. We were in those spaces for years with my husband’s pastor work. So, I want to encourage you this week to lean in, have courage, say what you want to say with wisdom and courage, and find friends to have coffee with after. Neighboring is hard and leading a group of people towards neighboring in this world is really hard. Courage, courage, courage, friends. You are doing good work.