U.S. Senate Releases Proposed NIH Funding Levels for FY 2026

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations advanced its fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill on July 31. The bill would provide $48.7 billion for NIH, a $400 million increase compared to FY 2025. The proposed funding includes $7.4 billion for the National Cancer Institute, including $28 million for the Childhood Cancer STAR (Survivorship, Treatment, Access, Research) Act. The bill also proposes $3.9 billion for Alzheimer’s and dementia research. Additionally, the bill maintains funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) at the FY 2025 level of $1.5 billion

The House Committee on Appropriations will mark up its version of the LHHS funding bill in September.

Additionally, the administration released FY 2025 NIH funding following a temporary pause. The pause occurred following the transmittal of a budget document to NIH from the White House Office of Management and Budget that included a footnote limiting what NIH could fund, including research grants, research and development contracts and training awards. This action follows a letter sent last week to OMB Director Russell Vought, led by Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) along with 13 additional Republican senators, calling for the full implementation of FY 2025 NIH funding.

ACR®, along with coalitions such as the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, continues to urge Congress to fund the NIH at the highest possible levels in FY 2026.

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