Overview
The White House recently shared their proposed budget for Fiscal 2026 and it calls for a 40% reduction in research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the elimination of the National Eye Institute (NEI) by folding it into a broader neuroscience institute.
These proposed policy changes would dramatically impact the advancement of treatments and cures for retinal diseases and all conditions that affect vision. The NEI is a critical partner of the Foundation Fighting Blindness in the development of sight-saving treatments for inherited retinal diseases (IRD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
While the Foundation is taking action on Capitol Hill, we urgently need our community members to contact Congress now to advocate for vision research!
Here is a simple, step-by-step action plan for scheduling your visit:
- Go to House.gov and enter your zip code to identify your representative.
- Visit your representative’s website to obtain the phone number for their district office.
- Call the district office and ask to schedule a meeting during the upcoming recess (ends on Friday, April 25).
- Listen to the Contact Congress Podcast to learn more about how to engage your House Member during your meeting and best practices for effectively telling your story.
Sample Letter to Address the Members of Congress
Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City/State].
I’m reaching out because I’m deeply concerned about a proposal from the Office of Management and Budget that would cut funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by 40% and eliminate the National Eye Institute (NEI) by merging it into a broader neuroscience institute.
The NEI is a vital partner in advancing research to treat and cure blinding conditions like inherited retinal diseases, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Eliminating or restructuring the NEI would be devastating to the vision loss community and to the scientists working tirelessly to develop sight-saving therapies.
I respectfully urge you to:
- Oppose any cuts to NIH funding
- Preserve the National Eye Institute as a standalone institute
- Prioritize vision research
[Optional: Share your personal story here — how vision loss affects you or your loved one, and why NEI-funded research matters to you.]
Please make it a priority to protect vision research and the millions of Americans affected by blinding diseases. Thank you for your time and for representing our community.
