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. Congress must pass the nine 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.