California’s acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis has proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, dedicating it to the thousands of children across the state who continue to battle this life-changing disease. In her statement, Kounalakis emphasized the pivotal measures that the state has taken  to continue childhood cancer research amidst cuts at the federal level. 

Back in May, President Trump released his final proposed budget, which would oversee several cuts to any programs that did not align with the administration’s policies. The budget indicates that approximately a 38% cut will be made to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the NHI will see a 44% reduction in funding for the fiscal year 2026. 

The proposal will not only eliminate funding for vital health care research, cancer research and infectious diseases studies, but will also result in many employees being laid off. 

Last month , the Supreme Court ruled in favour of President Trump to move forward with eliminating nearly $800 million in research grants made to the NIH. In California, researchers are creating streams of funding for childhood cancer research to make it accessible for the general public to ask for assistance, according to Kounalakis.

“No child should have to worry about a cancer diagnosis, about balancing school or play dates with chemotherapy and recovery time…We honor the brave children, those lost and those still thankfully with us today. They are the reasons we cannot give up in the search for a cure, and in this month, California recommits to doing all that we can to end this terrible disease,” said Acting Governor Kounalakis

The Supreme Court also ruled today that the Trump administration must restore the $500 million in grants that were withheld from UCLA after disputes  between the institution and the Trump administration.