Invisible Wounds, Visible Cuts: Federal Budget Threatens Lifeline for Millions Living with Brain Injury

Unlike a broken arm or leg, a brain injury doesn’t come with a cast or a bandage. The pain, the memory loss, the daily struggle to think clearly it’s invisible to most. But for more than 64 million Americans who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), that invisible battle is lifelong.

For years, small but critical federal programs have helped millions rebuild their lives after brain injury. From return-to-play concussion guidelines to state injury prevention efforts, these initiatives have made a real difference. But now, all of that is at risk.

According to leaked budget proposals and documents from the Office of Management and Budget, nearly every federal program focused on brain injury is on the chopping block. The cuts are deep and devastating.

Programs like the CDC’s HEADS UP campaign, which teaches coaches and parents how to recognize and respond to concussions, are slated for elimination. The Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems, which provide top-tier care for those with severe brain injuries, could be dismantled. The National Concussion Surveillance System, which helps identify trends and emerging risks, could vanish completely. These aren’t just bureaucratic line items. These are lifelines.

Without these programs:

• A high school quarterback might take a second hit to the head that could’ve been prevented.

• A veteran could lose access to specialized rehabilitation after a blast injury.

• A family caring for a stroke survivor may lose the small grant that kept their loved one out of a nursing home.

And all of this in a country where TBI already costs over $76 billion each year in emergency care, lost productivity, and disability. Meanwhile, actual federal funding for brain injury research in 2024 is just $3.03 per person living with TBI the cost of a cheap cup of coffee.

These proposed cuts aren’t just cruel. They’re short-sighted and dangerous.

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Eliminating these programs means throwing away decades of progress, knowledge, and support. It means turning our backs on millions of Americans who are doing everything they can just to reclaim their lives.

Brain injury doesn’t discriminate. It affects athletes, soldiers, car crash survivors, stroke victims people from every walk of life.

And now, they need us more than ever. The time to act is now. Cutting these programs isn’t fiscal responsibility it’s a national failure. Congress must reject these proposals and protect the vital support systems for those living with the unseen scars of brain injury.

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