The study is further threatened by political tensions, particularly recent threats from the Trump administration to cut federal funding to Harvard over alleged civil rights violations.

These political tensions could jeopardize the continuation of the Nurses' Health Study, which has been crucial in collecting health data from approximately 280,000 nurses.

Participants, including Patricia Chubb and Charlotte Mae Rohrbaugh, express frustration over the potential loss of invaluable research and the disconnect between political motives and medical research.

Research from the Nurses’ Health Study has led to significant public health insights, including the harmful effects of trans fats and the link between smoking and heart disease.

Key findings from the study have influenced national dietary guidelines, hormonal therapies for breast cancer, and research on the impact of dietary factors on disease.

Overall, the Nurses' Health Study has been unique in focusing on women's health, an area that has historically been underrepresented in medical research.

The Nurses’ Health Study, initiated in 1976, has been a pivotal long-term research project involving nearly 300,000 women, significantly advancing our understanding of health and nutrition for women.

Among the long-term participants are researchers Patricia Chubb and her mother, Charlotte Mae Rohrbaugh, who emphasize the study's critical role in advancing women's health research.

This study has fostered multi-generational participation, with families continuing to contribute, underscoring its importance to women's health.

However, funding for the study was cut in May 2025, leaving researchers scrambling to preserve essential biological samples collected over decades, including urine and DNA specimens.

Participants view the current administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative as ironic, given the cuts to crucial research funding that contradict public health goals.

The potential loss of the study's data has been likened to 'burning the Library of Congress,' highlighting the irretrievable nature of the research and its contributions to health science.