NIH cuts delayed his cancer treatment. This is his message.

For months, Richard Schlueter had one hope: NIH scientists had custom-made an experimental cell therapy to fight his cancer, which started in his tonsils but is now peppered throughout his body. His therapy was in a freezer in Bethesda, nearly ready to go. But on June 3, his NIH doctor informed him that it would now take eight to 10 weeks because of cuts to essential lab personnel — a painful illustration of the life-or-death stakes of the administration’s approach to shrinking the government workforce.