Comments on OMB research rule mysteriously removed from federal website Agency pulls posts mentioning CF diagnosis of director Russell Vought’s daughter

Comments on OMB research rule mysteriously removed from federal website Agency pulls posts mentioning CF diagnosis of director Russell Vought’s daughter By Anil OzaAug. 25, 2026 General Assignment Reporter https://www.statnews.com/2026/08/25/russell-vought-omb-funding-comments-daughter-benefited-nih-research/ The case of the mysteriously deleted comments When Magdeleine Bradford-Butcher heard about a pending White House regulation that would subject federal science funding to increased political intervention, she decided to submit a public comment on the proposal to explain how she has benefited from research funding. Her daughter has cystic fibrosis, as does the daughter of Russell Vought, who directs the White House Office of Management and Budget. “He probably isn't reading these but just in case: Russell, for the sake of your daughter and mine, please do not make these rules effective,” she pleaded in her comment, mentioning the medication that both children have been treated with. Then something unusual happened: Bradford-Butcher’s comment was taken down, without explanation. Hers is one of 42 published comments that have been removed, STAT’s Anil Oza reports. Among those, it’s one of 10 that note how Vought’s family has benefited from federally funded research. Read more from Anil on how legal experts reacted to the deletions and what it may mean for future challenges to the proposal.