Statement of the Cancer Leadership Council on Elimination of the CDC Division of Cancer Prevention and Control

April 25, 2025 – The undersigned cancer organizations — representing cancer patients and survivors, cancer care professionals, cancer researchers, and family members and caregivers – express their deep concerns about the recommended elimination of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We reviewed the “passback” budget document for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for fiscal year 2026. We understand that this document is an advisory from the Office of Management and Budget to HHS on the department’s initial budget plan and reflects the Trump Administration’s policy priorities. The passback document recommends the elimination of cancer prevention and control programs at CDC.

The termination of these critical cancer prevention and control programs will undermine America’s progress in the fight against cancer and challenge efforts to improve cancer care and quality of life for all. Halting these programs is also at odds with efforts to Make America Healthy Again. The end of the CDC ‘s cancer prevention and control efforts will reduce screening and early detection efforts, slow important efforts aimed at risk reduction and survivorship care improvement, and undermine essential data collection efforts that inform the entire cancer prevention, care, and research enterprise.

We are concerned that wiping away vital cancer prevention and control programs could have the following effects.

• National Program of Cancer Registries – this program coordinates with other federal agencies to collect data on almost all cancer cases in the United States. The data that result from this coordinated approach guide efforts to prevent cancer and detect it early. For example, data from the comprehensive collection effort have informed us about early onset of colorectal cancer and efforts to address this matter.
• Colorectal Cancer Control Program – this program is focused on increasing colorectal cancer screening rates for people aged 45 to 75. Screening rates increased from 57% in 2010 to 61%, in 2024, resulting in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates dropping by over 30% in the U.S. among adults 40 and older in the last fifteen years, with a substantial fraction of these declines due to screening. ¹
• National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) – this program which has bipartisan support has resulted in the early detection of many cancers and served as a pathway to appropriate cancer care for many women. In 2021, an estimated 76% of US women were up to date with breast cancer screening and 75% were up to date with cervical cancer screening.² Breast cancer incidence rates have been increasing, with a 1% rise per year from 2012 to 2021. Of particular concern is the increase in incidence in women younger than 50. However, mortality rates have decreased by 44% since 1989, due to earlier detection and improved treatments. To end the NBCCEDP would disrupt the breast and cervical care detection effort and halt or even reverse progress accomplished over years.
• National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program – this program supports all 50 states, District of Columbia, the territories, and tribal organizations to build partnerships and foster programs that improve access to screening and early detection, reduce cancer risk factors, and address the full range of needs of cancer survivors. To terminate these programs and partnerships would upend years of effective initiatives that are helping to control cancer.

We are concerned about the wholesale termination of these cancer programs, especially because they honor in a fundamental way the goal to “Make America Healthy Again.” Through cancer risk reduction, screening and early detection of cancer, and cancer survivorship care, these programs are consistent with keeping and making Americans healthy. These programs foster the long-term health of cancer survivors and help with prevention and management of other diseases that may affect cancer survivors. Overall, these prevention and screening programs are clearly part of a national effort to make and keep Americans healthy.

We urge the Trump Administration to abandon the proposal to eliminate cancer prevention and control programs. We strongly recommend that the FY 2026 budget presented to Congress include funding for the cancer prevention and control programs at CDC. If the final fiscal year 2026 budget plan that is submitted to Congress does not include funding for the cancer prevention and control programs, we urge Congress to reject the plan and restore program funding.

Cancer Leadership Council

Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators
Association of Oncology Social Work
CancerCare
Cancer Support Community
Children’s Cancer Cause
College of American Pathologists
Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association
Fight Colorectal Cancer
International Myeloma Foundation
LUNGevity Foundation
Lymphoma Research Foundation
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance

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