House Committee Advances FY26 Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Bill: What it Means for Global Health
On September 9, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee marked up its FY26 Labor, health and Human Services, education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. While the bulk of U.S. funding for global health initiatives flows through the State Department, this bill considerably impacts global health programs housed within the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This analysis breaks down the key changes and what they mean for global health funding. You can review the original documents hear: bill, report, and amendments.
Key Changes to Global health Funding
The proposed bill presents a mixed picture for global health. Some programs face elimination, while others maintain current funding levels. Here’s a detailed look:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
* Program Eliminations: The bill proposes eliminating funding for critical CDC programs focused on:
* Global HIV/AIDS
* Global Tuberculosis
* Certain global vaccination activities
* Continued Funding: Funding for global polio vaccination and Global Public Health Protection programs will remain at FY2025 levels.
* Program Transfers: Funding for Parasitic Diseases and Malaria will be moved from the Center for Global Health to the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. However, the specific funding amount remains unspecified.
National Institutes of Health (NIH):
* Fogarty international Center (FIC): Funding for the FIC,which supports global health research,will match FY2025 levels.
* Other Global Health Research: funding for research related to global HIV/AIDS and malaria at NIH is currently undetermined.these amounts will be decided at the agency level, not directly by Congress in this appropriations bill. the bill does direct that NIH research funding for HIV be allocated through the Office of AIDS Research.
Understanding the Funding Context
It’s crucial to note that FY2025 funding levels were established through a full-year Continuing resolution (CR), effectively maintaining FY2024 levels. Thus, “matching prior year funding” means maintaining the FY2024 appropriation.
Resources for Further Information
To gain a broader understanding of U.S. global health funding, consider these resources:
* KFF Global Health Budget Summaries: https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/fact-sheet/kff-global-health-budget-summaries/
* KFF U.S. Global Health Budget Tracker: https://www.kff.org/interactive/u-s-global-health-budget-tracker/
* Downloadable Table: [Linktodownloadabletable-[Linktodownloadabletable-[Linktodownloadabletable-[Linktodownloadabletable-if available in original source]
What This Means for You
As a stakeholder in global health, these proposed changes require careful consideration. The elimination of funding for key CDC programs could significantly impact efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis worldwide. While maintaining funding for some programs offers stability, the overall direction suggests a potential shift in U.S. global health priorities