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314 ACTION LAUNCHES NEW DIGITAL TIP LINE, GIVING VOICE TO THOSE HURT BY PUBLIC HEALTH CUTS
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May 20, 2025
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — 314 Action today announced the launch of a powerful new digital tip line to hear directly from patients, families, and frontline workers who have been harmed by RFK Jr. and DOGE’s devastating cuts to public health funding.
“Donald Trump didn’t just light a match — he’s burning down America’s health care system,” saidShaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action. “This isn’t a game, it’s a full-blown public health care crisis. Billions have been slashed from life-saving medical research, over 10,000 public health workers were fired and now, 13.7 million people — moms, kids, seniors — could lose their Medicaid coverage overnight if House Republicans get their way.
“These cuts are invisible only to those who’ve never had to skip medication to pay rent or sit in an ER because their rural clinic was shut down. And it’s happening everywhere — in red states and blue. That’s why we’re launching the‘Chroniclers of Pain: Voices from the Frontline of a Public Health Crisis’ tip line to spotlight the stories politicians want to ignore. If you’ve lost access to care, been priced out of medication, lost a job or a research grant, we want to hear from you.
“Behind every dollar cut is a person left behind. Children are going untreated. Cancer research is being shelved. Seniors are rationing pills to survive. This is not theoretical. It’s life and death — and we need to put names, faces, and voices to the suffering Trump and his allies are causing — and hold them accountable.”
The tip line is a part of the organization’s week of action against RFK Jr., spotlighting his disastrous 100 days in office. This initiative aims to shine a spotlight on the real human cost of these reckless decisions — from patients denied life-saving care to researchers forced to abandon critical breakthroughs. By collecting and amplifying these voices, 314 Action is working to hold those responsible accountable and expose the true consequences of dismantling America’s health infrastructure.
314 Action was a leader in the fight against RFK Jr.’s confirmation and continues the work through an ongoing seven-figure accountability campaign against him and the Trump administration.
The progressive PAC 314 Action launched an ad campaign Monday slamming Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as he comes up on his 100th day in office, ridiculing him for his recent swim in a Washington, D.C.-area river that has long been deemed unsafe due to contamination.
In the 30-second ad, 314 Action presented Kennedy’s swim in Rock Creek as absurd, posting it next to two facetious headlines saying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered drone strikes from a steam bath and another saying Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shot and killed another dog.
Kennedy posted photos of himself and his grandchildren swimming in Rock Creek last week on social media. Swimming has been illegal in most of D.C.’s waterways since the 1970s, largely because of contamination from the District’s aging sewer system, and the National Park Service has stated “swimming and wading are not allowed due to high bacteria levels.”
“RFK Jr. ignored ‘keep out signs’ and jumped into a river with his grandkids contaminated by raw sewage,” the ad by 314 Action states. “RFK Jr. has presided over the worst measles outbreak in decades and cut billions in life-saving medical research. If RFK Jr. doesn’t care about the health of his own grandchildren, he doesn’t give a damn about yours.”
Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action, said Kennedy has “turned the nation’s top health office into a public health disaster” in his first 100 days atop Health and Human Services.
314 Action focuses on getting Democrats with backgrounds in STEM elected to public office. Successful candidates they’ve backed include Reps. Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.) and George Whitesides (D-Calif.) and Sen. Jacky Rosen (Nev.).
“He’s not just incompetent — he’s dangerous. Under his watch, we’ve seen the worst measles outbreak in decades, billions slashed from life-saving research, and a brutal plan to gut Medicaid for millions,” Naughton added. “RFK Jr. will be remembered not as a leader, but as a reckless conspiracy theorist who put children, seniors, and vulnerable Americans in mortal danger.”
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May 19, 2025
“If RFK Jr. doesn’t care about the health of his own grandchildren, he doesn’t give a damn about yours.”
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Ahead of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 100th day in office, 314 Action today launched a new digital ad, slamming RFK Jr.’s for ignoring health warnings and jumping into a river full of shit.
“In just 100 days, RFK Jr. has turned the nation’s top health office into a public health disaster,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action. “He’s not just incompetent — he’s dangerous. Under his watch, we’ve seen the worst measles outbreak in decades, billions slashed from life-saving research, and a brutal plan to gut Medicaid for millions. RFK Jr. will be remembered not as a leader, but as a reckless conspiracy theorist who put children, seniors, and vulnerable Americans in mortal danger.””
The ad is the start of 314 Action’s week-long campaign against RFK Jr., spotlighting his disastrous 100 days in office. 314 Action was a leader in the fight against RFK Jr.’s confirmation and continues the work through an ongoing seven-figure accountability campaign against him and the Trump administration. The ad will run in 10 priority congressional districts across Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Virginia.
Amy Acton, MD, MPH, wasn’t accustomed to the spotlight.
When Acton was appointed to lead the Ohio Department of Health in 2019, her top priorities were infant mortality and youth homelessness. Then came COVID-19.
Acton resigned as the state health director just over 3 months into the pandemic. But she hasn’t turned her back on public life — in January, she announced her candidacy for governor of Ohio in 2026.
Acton said she feels called to address the state’s declining public health.
In Ohio, “we went from having some of the best health outcomes to some of the worst, in terms of how long we live, our smoking rates, our diabetes rates and infant mortality,” Acton told Medscape Medical News in an interview. “I can’t look away when we’re going back.”
Acton’s frequent media appearances during the pandemic helped hone her public speaking skills — a good preparation for life on the campaign trail.
She said she had help from seasoned political advisors who have guided women into governor’s offices in other states. She also consulted Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a former NASA astronaut.
Learning The Ropes
Although running for office can be a daunting transition for doctors who are used to working one-on-one with patients, a handful of groups help doctors learn the ropes.
AMPAC, the American Medical Association (AMA)’s political action committee, organizes candidate workshops and campaign schools for doctors. AMPAC also contributes up to $5000 to a candidate’s campaign per election, including a primary, general, runoff, or special election. AMPAC can contribute directly to a campaign or make gifts in kind. The group also can pay for ads endorsing a candidate, send direct mail through the AMA’s political education fund, and use corporate dollars to educate voters.
Although AMPAC is bipartisan, it encourages candidates to uphold key principals of public health. For example, it discourages candidates from accepting money from tobacco companies or groups that oppose evidence-based public health measures to reduce firearm violence.
A $25-Million Campaign to Recruit Physician Candidates
A political action committee called 314 Action has recruited and supported scientists as political candidates since 2016.
Now, the left-leaning group has pledged to spend $25 million to elect 100 progressive doctors to state and national offices by 2030. The $25 million includes both direct contributions to candidates early in their campaigns, as well as providing advice and training.
“There’s so much behind the scenes that goes into guiding these candidates through the decision to run, helping them have a strong and impactful launch, and then advising and training them throughout their campaign,” said Grace Silva, 314 Action’s spokeswoman. “We’ve got an incredible team of experienced campaign managers and finance directors who work closely in these campaigns.”
For example, 314 Action commissioned a poll about voter interest in electing a doctor and whether they would support Action or the Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The survey found that voters gave both candidates roughly equal support.
“It’s really hard to break into politics when you don’t come from that traditional political background,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, a chemist who ran for Congress as a Democrat in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014.
Shaughnessy lost the race but founded 314 Action and now serves as its president.
While most first-time candidates can’t afford to hire a full-time campaign manager, Naughton said, “we have very senior–level staffers that act in that capacity to help launch these campaigns until they’re able to bring on paid staff.”
Doctors’ voices are urgently needed today to defend public health, Naughton said.
The workforce of the US Department of Health and Human Services has been cut by 25% as part of President Trump’s restructuring of the federal government.
Acton also cited cuts to health programs such as Meals on Wheels, which combat hunger and isolation among older adults, as motivating her to run for governor. “As physicians, we have to get out there and use our voices,” Acton said.
The White House did not respond to Medscape Medical News’ request for comment.
Natural Strengths as Candidates
Doctors have a number of advantages as political candidates.
Although running for office is challenging, Acton said, “it’s strange how well suited you are with the skill sets we have. Physicians are natural problem solvers.”
Arvind Venkat, MD, who served as president of his state’s emergency physicians organization, also became a public figure during the pandemic, when he appeared on local TV three times a week to answer questions about how to stay safe.
“We go into the field because we want to help people,” said Venkat, who was elected to represent Allegheny County in the Pennsylvania state legislature in 2023.
Trust in Medicine – And Politics
“Politics is also about building a trusting relationship with people, but on a widespread basis,” Venkat said. “I actually think that having a career in medicine — and being able to empathize with people — provides critical skills for anyone who’s thinking about running for office.”
Venkat said he’s drawn on his healthcare experience when working on healthcare issues, such as protecting consumers from medical debt. But Venkat said he’s also learned about subjects as diverse as energy, the environment, and public infrastructure.
“When you’re a physician, you’re a lifelong learner,” Venkat said. “You’re used to assimilating new sources of information. And as a physician, you understand the importance of unintended consequences. We’re always taught to do no harm.”
Obstacles to Running For Office
As an emergency physician, Venkat said he has experience working in “high-pressure environments,” which helps him keep his cool when making high-stakes decisions.
But the political process can move at a frustratingly slow pace for doctors used to working quickly and independently, said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a family doctor and emergency physician, who co-chairs the Guardians of Health campaign.
“The biggest hurdle for me was being patient enough with the political process to get change done,” Green said. “I was used to seeing a patient, prescribing a treatment and getting a result. In the emergency room, we’re very driven to take action quickly. That’s not how government works.”
Green said he’s legally barred from working as a doctor while serving as a governor. But Shaughnessy noted that many elected positions are part-time, especially in local government, allowing doctors to represent voters while continuing to see patients.
Venkat, a full-time legislator, said he continues to work a couple emergency department shifts a month. “I do my shifts on nights and weekends and holidays when the political world is not working,” he said.
One of the biggest hurdles that Venkat had to overcome, he said, was fundraising.
Venkat said he and his wife, who is also a physician, “haven’t had to ask anyone for money in our adult lives. But as a candidate, I have to overcome that queasiness. There’s certainly been a learning curve associated with that.”
A Critical Time for Science and Medicine
Research shows that physicians are less likely to attend public meetings or even vote. But doctors are more likely than others to discuss politics with friends or family, donate to political organizations, and buy products or boycott companies based on political values.
While research shows that doctors are more likely to vote for Democrats than for Republicans, the GOP has an edge among physicians in Congress.
Of the 21 physicians serving in Congress — four senators and 17 representatives — 15 are Republican. All of the physician senators — Roger Marshall (Kansas), Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), Rand Paul (Kentucky), and John Barrasso (Wyoming) — are Republican.
Regardless of party, “we desperately need more physicians in politics,” Venkat said. “Decisions are being made that directly affect our ability to care for patients in our communities.”
As an elected official, “you are able to help so many more people than you might be able to on an individual basis,” Venkat said.
“I’ve never liked it when people say that physicians should stay in their lane and just take care of patients. There’s a long history of physicians advocating for their patients and their communities outside of the four walls of the clinic or the hospital or the emergency department.”
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May 15, 2025
“He is one of the most forward-thinking, pro-science policy champions in Congress”
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — 314 Action Fund today announced the endorsement of Senator John Hickenlooper for reelection in Colorado.
“At a time where everything from science, health care, and the cost of living is under attack, we need to work harder than ever to reelect those in fighting for us in office—and that’s Senator John Hickenlooper,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action Fund. “Time and time again, he’s delivered for Coloradans by using facts and data to always put their needs first. He is one of the most forward-thinking, pro-science policy champions in Congress. We’re proud to endorse Senator Hickenlooper for reelection and look forward to supporting him once again.”
“We can’t tackle climate change or the problems of tomorrow without science,” said Senator John Hickenlooper. “314 Action is leading the pack to keep science — and scientists — at the table. We’re excited to have their support as we fight to protect Colorado families!”
John Hickenlooper is a geologist by training and the only scientist in the Senate. He spent his career starting and growing small businesses, including Colorado’s first brewpub. He later served as Mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado. Since his election to the U.S. Senate, he’s secured positions on several Senate committees dedicated to science policy, including the committees on Energy and Natural Resources as well as Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Senator Hickenlooper played an instrumental role passing the Inflation Reduction Act — the largest investment to fight climate change in history — and helped advance pro-science legislation, including the CHIPS + Science Act and the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Senator Hickenlooper is fighting to protect federal funding for science and has also pushed back on the Trump administration’s anti-science views. He voted against the majority of President Trump’s Cabinet picks, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services RFK Jr., who have pushed disinformation and anti-science views.
314 Action Fund is the only national organization working to elect Democrats with backgrounds in science and medicine across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care.
“If RFK Jr. thinks his vaccine lies and reckless medical opinions are ‘irrelevant,’ then he has no business leading America’s health agencies,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action. “In just 100 days, he’s presided over the worst measles outbreak in decades, slashed billions from lifesaving research, and backed a plan to gut Medicaid for millions. That’s not just negligence — it’s deadly.
“RFK Jr.’s conspiracy theories aren’t harmless — they’re killing Americans. This isn’t leadership. It’s a public health crisis. If he doesn’t even trust his own advice, why should the American people?”
314 Action is the only national organization working to elect scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care.
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May 13, 2025
“Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is a death sentence for our oldest, sickest, and most vulnerable.”
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement on House Republicans’ 160-page plan to cut over $715 billion from Medicaid:
“Congressional Republicans are all-in on Donald Trump’s reckless crusade to bankrupt America. They’re plotting to gut Medicaid and strip life-saving health care from millions—shredding the safety net to fund the chaos.
“Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is a death sentence for our oldest, sickest, and most vulnerable. Between his reckless tariff threats and a pharma price war, millions on Medicaid will be priced out of life-saving medications. This isn’t policy—it’s cruelty. Once again, Trump is waging war on Americans’ health—and spineless congressional Republicans are helping him do it. Their latest move, slashing Medicaid so billionaires can cash in on even bigger tax breaks. It’s greed over lives, plain and simple.”
314 Action is the only national organization working to elect scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care.
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April 30, 2025
“Instead of standing up for their communities, they will continue to let Trump destroy our economy”
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — 314 Action today launched a new campaign of radio ads in rural communities, slamming Republicans who support Donald Trump’s tariffs. The radio ads will air in 6 competitive districts, urging constituents to call their representatives and demand they stand up against Trump’s economic disaster.
314 Action is targeting the following representatives: Eli Crane (AZ-02), Gabe Evans (CO-08), Marianette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Zach Nunn (IA-03), Ryan Zinke (MT-01), and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07).
“No matter how they try to slice it, there’s no denying that the Trump tariffs are economic terrorism against the American people,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action. “These weak-willed representatives know that our farmers and rural communities are going to be hit the hardest. But instead of standing up for their communities, they will continue to let Trump destroy our economy. It’s time for Republicans to grow a spine and do the right thing.”
