Congress slashed research on Lyme disease
Melia, who was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, notes that Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses are on the rise in the U.S., yet Congress eliminated $9 million in federal funding for related research in March 2025—funding that supported both diagnostics and treatments. She also warns that Medicaid cuts threaten rural hospitals, which play a vital role in her healthcare despite limited resources: after years of inconclusive tests and worsening symptoms, a seizure sent her to a small rural hospital where attentive staff started her recovery.