FY26 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill: What it Means for Global Health Funding

The Senate Committee on Appropriations recently approved its FY 2026 Labor, health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor HHS) appropriations bill on July 31, 2025.This bill considerably impacts funding for global health programs, particularly those housed within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know.

Key⁣ Appropriations Details

While the bulk of U.S. global health funding flows‍ through the State Department’s appropriations,the Labor HHS bill plays a crucial role⁣ in ⁤supporting vital⁢ global health initiatives⁣ at the CDC and NIH. Understanding⁢ these allocations is essential for anyone tracking U.S. involvement in international health security ⁢and advancement.

Currently, the total global health funding allocated through the Labor HHS bill is still being finalized. This is because funding for certain NIH programs, like global HIV/AIDS and‍ malaria research, is steadfast at the agency level, rather than being directly specified by Congress in the annual appropriations process.‍ However, we do have concrete numbers for key areas.

CDC Global Health Programs: The bill allocates $693 million for global health programs at the CDC – maintaining the same funding level as FY 2025. NIH Fogarty International Center: Funding for global health research activities ⁢at the fogarty International Center (FIC) at NIH remains at $95 million,consistent with FY 2025 levels.

You can find a more detailed breakdown of the funding allocations in this downloadable table: https://www.kff.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/KFF-Analysis-FY26-senate-LHHS.xlsx.

A Closer Look at the Numbers ⁢& Context

These funding levels ⁢are particularly noteworthy when considered alongside the Biden Governance’s FY26 budget request. The request proposed notable changes to CDC’s global health structure, including the elimination of the Global Health Center and most of its bilateral programs.

However, the Senate bill maintains current funding for many of these programs, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing global health initiatives. The request did propose transferring funding for “Global Disease Detection & Emergency Response” to “Crosscutting Activities and⁢ Programme Support,” and⁣ “Parasitic Diseases and Malaria” to “Emerging ⁢and Zoonotic Infectious ⁤Diseases.” This restructuring, while not fully reflected in the appropriations bill, signals a potential shift in priorities.

It’s also vital to remember that FY25 funding⁢ was provided through a full-year Continuing Resolution (CR), effectively maintaining FY24 levels. Therefore, the FY26 appropriations represent a continuation of recent investment, rather than a significant increase or decrease.

Resources for Further Research

Staying informed about global health funding is a complex ⁣undertaking. Here ⁢are some valuable resources to help you track developments and understand the broader context:

Full Bill Text: lhhssenatereport.pdf”>https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy26lhhssenatereport.pdf
Amendments: