NIH FY2026 Appropriations Pushed to September

Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in federal fiscal year (FY) 2026 is uncertain until Congress returns from its August recess. Before lawmakers departed to their respective congressional districts, the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations approved updated FY 2026 appropriations allocations for all of its subcommittees; this includes allocations for the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) subcommittee, which sets NIH funding in the House. 

The LHHS allocation in the House is $184.5 billion, approximately $1.3 billion less than its FY 2025 funding levels, but not as drastic as what was previously included in the President’s Budget Proposal. Committee members will consider changes — known as “markup” — to NIH’s share of the $184.5 billion allotted when back in September. 

ACR® advocacy is ongoing for increased funding levels for NIH and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The College and other healthcare associations, including the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, seek at least $51.3 billion for the NIH in FY 2026.

The U.S. Senate has not released a markup schedule that includes their LHHS appropriations bill. The current fiscal year funding ends Sept. 30. 

For more information, contact Katie Grady, ACR Government Affairs Director.