Budget Cuts in Brain Injury Research: A Blow to Sports
The current administration proposes to eliminate federal funding for research and education on traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in its fiscal budget for 2026. This measure could significantly affect efforts to address head injuries in sports, especially at the school and youth levels.
The budget, presented on Friday, includes the elimination of funds for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the agency responsible for research on TBI. This includes the $8.25 million allocated for brain injury research and public education on the dangers of concussions. The CDC faces budget cuts of $3.59 billion.
Although the budget proposal is from the President, Congress has the final say. The LCT program could be restored or relocated to another agency.
This budget proposal comes after the CDC placed on paid administrative leave the five employees dedicated to the administration of the main government program for traumatic brain injuries. This situation generates uncertainty about the future of the program and its initiatives.
“This could reverse decades of progress.”
Dr. Owen Perlman, brain injury specialist and board member of the Brain Injury Association of America.
Among the affected programs is “Heads Up”, a concussion prevention program for coaches, athletic trainers, and other youth and high school sports officials. CDC employees who administered the program were put on leave. This program has the participation of 45 states in varying degrees.
The “Heads Up” program is part of the state compliance requirements for coaches and other sports officials. The inactivity of the federal program has generated hundreds of weekly inquiries on how to meet these requirements.
The “Heads Up” website indicates that more than 10 million people have participated in their online training programs.
Funding for LCT research was first approved by Congress in 1996. Legislation to keep the program in place expired at the end of 2024, and a House bill to renew it has yet to advance.
A 2018 CDC survey revealed that 12% of the surveyed adults reported having suffered a head injury in the previous 12 months, including sports-related activities. A follow-up study was being prepared when the employees were put on leave.
The “Heads Up” website remained active, but without offering information about the program’s status.
“I think the public hasn’t felt the impact in the last month. But when those websites, trainings, and materials are removed or can’t be updated, I think that’s when the public will feel it.”
A former CDC employee.
In the proposed budget, the National Institutes of Health would maintain an institute dedicated to general brain research, although the name would change slightly. It is unclear whether the LCT programs would be absorbed by this institute.
Hospitals and universities conducting research on LCT funded by the CDC are preparing for potential funding cuts.
“We might not get next year’s renewal or the next wave of funding. And that’s sad, scary, and impactful for all kinds of people, including me on this project.”
Christine Baugh, assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
The National Academy of Sciences was ordered to cancel work on two workshops on LCT, one of which analyzed the risks of repeated head impacts in children. The cancellation affected funding for the publication of the information.
“That is a perfect example of how this change in, or the devastation of, funding at the CDC is impacting people. They want to know, for sports: What about these repetitive impacts? Are they bad for children? It’s a perfect example of the impact of this.”
Dr. Fred Rivara, professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington.
Traumatic brain injuries have lifelong repercussions on a person’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral health.
Although some states fund LCT treatment programs independently, there is concern about a domino effect if Congress does not renew federal funding.
“For many people with concussions or, certainly, moderate or severe brain injuries, there is no end point. It is a lifelong problem, and there must be lifelong funding for it.”
Dr. Owen Perlman.
