Story perspectives

Police Remove Researchers from ADA Meeting Over Editorial Distribution

6/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

Police escorted five researchers out of American Diabetes Association (ADA) meeting in New Orleans after they distributed an editorial criticizing President Donald Trump’s NIH proposal.
They were barred from the conference and received an apology video from ADA executive Charles Henderson.
ADA said the removal was for distribution, not political content, citing 501(c)(3) rules.
Diabetes researchers, including Jeffrey Flier, called the incident a grave error that harmed the organization’s credibility.

History

Historical Context

The IRS’s 1995 Revenue Ruling 73-545 capped 501(c)(3) lobbying at 5 % of expenses, a limit that resurfaced when the American Diabetes Association halted political pamphlets after a 2018 audit. After Citizens United (2010) spurred massive nonprofit election spending—over $100 million by September 2010—IRS scrutiny of political activity intensified, shaping today’s ADA enforcement actions.

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Story summary

Police escorted five researchers out of American Diabetes Association (ADA) meeting in New Orleans after they distributed an editorial criticizing President Donald Trump’s NIH proposal.
They were barred from the conference and received an apology video from ADA executive Charles Henderson.
ADA said the removal was for distribution, not political content, citing 501(c)(3) rules.
Diabetes researchers, including Jeffrey Flier, called the incident a grave error that harmed the organization’s credibility.

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