Trump administration terminates over $750 million in mRNA funding to Moderna amid growing concerns about under-tested vaccine technology and lack of transparency during the previous administration.
Key Takeaways
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has cut more than $750 million in funding to Moderna for mRNA-based bird flu vaccines, citing safety concerns and inadequate testing.
- This decision marks a significant shift from the Biden administration, which had previously awarded Moderna $766 million for mRNA vaccine technology development.
- HHS officials highlighted issues of transparency, suggesting the previous administration concealed legitimate safety concerns about mRNA vaccines from the public.
- The move aligns with broader Trump administration vaccine policy changes, including removing COVID-19 vaccines from recommended lists for children and pregnant women.
- Moderna plans to pursue alternative paths for its bird flu vaccine program despite the funding loss, pointing to positive preliminary trial results.
Safety Concerns Drive Major Funding Cut
The Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services has made a decisive move by terminating over $750 million in federal funding previously allocated to Moderna for the development of mRNA-based bird flu vaccines. This significant policy shift comes after a thorough review of the mRNA technology’s safety profile and testing protocols. HHS officials stated that the decision reflects concerns about inadequate testing and oversight during the previous administration’s handling of mRNA vaccine development and deployment. The funding cut includes $590 million and $176 million that had been awarded to Moderna by the Biden administration.
“After a rigorous review, we concluded that continued investment in Moderna’s H5N1 mRNA vaccine was not scientifically or ethically justifiable. This is not simply about efficacy — it’s about safety, integrity, and trust. The reality is that mRNA technology remains under-tested, and we are not going to spend taxpayer dollars repeating the mistakes of the last administration, which concealed legitimate safety concerns from the public,” Stated Andrew Nixon
The administration’s concerns stem from documented side effects associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer, particularly cases of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. A Senate Republican report further substantiated these concerns, suggesting that the Biden administration deliberately withheld critical safety data and downplayed potential risks linked to the widespread use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. This pattern of concealing information from the public played a significant role in the current administration’s decision to halt further funding.
Moderna’s Response and Future Plans
Moderna has responded to the funding termination by emphasizing the positive results from its early-phase trials of the mRNA-based H5 bird flu vaccine. According to the company, approximately 300 healthy adults who participated in the trials showed strong immune responses, suggesting potential efficacy against avian influenza. Despite losing government funding, Moderna’s leadership has indicated they will pursue alternative paths to continue developing this vaccine technology, highlighting what they describe as a robust safety profile observed in their preliminary analyses.
“While the termination of funding from HHS adds uncertainty, we are pleased by the robust immune response and safety profile observed in this interim analysis of the Phase 1/2 study of our H5 avian flu vaccine and we will explore alternative paths forward for the program,” Stated Stephane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna
The company’s CEO, Stephane Bancel, has doubled down on defending mRNA technology, describing it as a critical countermeasure to emerging health threats. This position stands in stark contrast to the HHS assessment, creating a significant divide between the pharmaceutical industry’s perspective and the government’s current stance on mRNA vaccine technology. The disagreement highlights the ongoing tension between rapid vaccine development in response to potential pandemics and ensuring thorough safety testing protocols are followed before widespread deployment.
Broader Implications for Public Health Policy
The funding termination represents a broader shift in federal vaccine policy under the Trump administration. Additional policy changes include removing COVID-19 vaccines from the recommended list for children and pregnant women, reflecting a more cautious approach to vaccine recommendations based on risk-benefit analyses for different demographic groups. The administration has emphasized its commitment to transparency in vaccine research and deployment, stating that all future vaccine development will undergo rigorous safety evaluations with clear communication to the public about potential risks.
While some former Biden administration officials have criticized the decision, the Trump administration maintains that responsible oversight of taxpayer dollars requires careful evaluation of scientific merit and safety profiles before committing to large-scale investments. The United States does maintain older technology vaccines against H5 viruses in its Strategic National Stockpile, providing some protection against potential bird flu outbreaks while alternative approaches are evaluated. This balanced approach aims to protect public health while ensuring that vaccine technologies undergo appropriate testing before widespread implementation.
