Earlier this week, House and Senate appropriators released a bipartisan, bicameral fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending bill which includes funding for the Department of Health and Human Services. The House passed the spending bill on January 22. The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote next week. Congress must pass the six outstanding annual appropriations bills or another stop-gap spending measure to avoid a partial government shutdown when the current federal continuing resolution expires on January 30.
The bill provides $48.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a $415 million (0.9 percent) increase above the FY2025 level. This funding increase includes $2.3 billion for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, an increase of $16 million. By contrast, the President’s FY 2026 budget would have cut the NIH by $18 billion. Importantly, the bill also preserves NIH facilities and administrative (F&A) costs.
In a letter sent to the Hill, ASGE joined nearly 150 groups in asking Congress for full-year appropriations and to fund the NIH at $48.7 billion. The letter also opposed the imposition of arbitrary caps on F&A rates.
The bill flat funds the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s colorectal cancer program at $44.3. The program would have been eliminated under President Trump’s budget.
Overall, the legislation represents a positive, compromise outcome that avoids drastic cuts proposed by the President.