Moskowitz Demands Answers on the Zeroing Out of Funds to DOD’s Pancreatic Cancer Research Program

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) is raising the alarm about the security of the Department of Defense's Pancreatic Cancer Research Program, following massive cuts to it under the Pentagon's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). His letter to CDMRP Director Col. Mark Hartell presses officials for answers on the rationale for completely eliminating funds to this program and urges reconsideration to ensure that pancreatic cancer research remains a top priority.

Congress's March 2025 continuing resolution included a 57% cut to the CDMRP, which supports research on various diseases. Rather than proportionally decreasing resources to the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program based on this 57% reduction, funds for the program have been zeroed out, raising Moskowitz's concern: "While I understand that the 57% cut included in the CR would impact funding for these programs, I was shocked and disappointed to see that CDMRP funding for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program has been completely eliminated rather than proportionally decreased."

Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of any major cancer, taking thousands of lives every year. In 2025 alone, an estimated nearly 68,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease, and more than 50,000 will lose their lives to it. Moskowitz lost his father to pancreatic cancer in 2022.

In his push for answers, Moskowitz emphasizes the importance of research for finding effective treatments and a cure: "It is critical that we maintain strong investments in research to develop effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure. Reducing funding for research threatens to slow the progress that has been made and diminishes the hope for better outcomes for patients… These decisions must be made with careful consideration of the long-term consequences for the patients and families affected by pancreatic cancer."

Moskowitz concludes his letter by urging reconsideration of these funding cuts to ensure that pancreatic cancer research remains a top priority: "I urge you to reconsider these funding cuts and ensure that pancreatic cancer research remains a top priority. The future of medical breakthroughs in this field depends on continued financial support, and more importantly, the lives of those affected by pancreatic cancer depend on it."

For more information on Moskowitz's letter on cuts to the Department of Defense's Pancreatic Cancer Research Program, click HERE.

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