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  6. Summary of FY26 House LHHS Appropriations Bill

Summary of FY26 House LHHS Appropriations Bill

September 03, 2025

On Sept. 1, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) appropriations subcommittee released its version of the FY26 LHHS bill. The LHHS appropriations subcommittee marked up the legislation on Sept. 2, and a full committee markup is expected on Sept. 9. The proposed funding levels included in the bill are subject to change as the House Appropriations Committee considers the bill, and both chambers of Congress are expected to engage in negotiations before the expiration of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30.

It is important to note that the bill rejects the Administration’s FY26 budget proposal to restructure, eliminate, or consolidate many public health programs. It also disallows the use of funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, training, programs, offices, officers, and policies.

ASTHO’s Government Affairs team will conduct a detailed analysis in the coming days. We expect the House LHHS bill to represent the low-water mark for funding, compared to funding proposed by the Senate, which represents a high-water mark.

Outlook

As a friendly reminder, the Senate advanced its FY26 LHHS appropriations bill out of the full appropriations committee on July 31. As FY26 approaches, both the House and the Senate are expected to begin negotiations on FY26 funding with their return to Capitol Hill after both being on recess throughout the month of August.

The Administration's recent request to Congress for rescissions of various foreign aid programs will likely complicate FY26 funding negotiations. This follows an initial request from the Administration to rescind funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development and various state department programs, as well as funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was ultimately approved by Congress.

Discussions, specifically in the Senate, about the first rescissions package raised concerns from members on both sides of the political spectrum about the Administration potentially circumventing congressional intent when it comes to appropriating funds for programs. Furthermore, Congress is statutorily required to review the proposal within 45 legislative days. As Congress considers the package, the Administration can withhold funding for programs included in the package. If Congress is unable to act within 45 legislative days, the Administration is required to release the funds and make them available for obligation.

Considering that there are fewer than 45 legislative days before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, there is concern that the Administration would be able to “pocket rescind” the funds, or withhold them while the 45-day review period for Congress runs out or before Congress has the opportunity to review. Both the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee have expressed their concerns with the Administration’s second rescissions package.

ASTHO’s Government Affairs team will continue to advocate for state and territorial public health agencies, encouraging Congress to sustain funding for state and territorial health priorities. The committee draft text and summary (majority and minority) are available for review.

Excerpts from Committee Funding Summary

The bill includes a total of $108.6 billion for HHS, a decrease of $6.8 billion from the FY25 enacted level.

CDC

The bill includes a total of $7.4 billion for CDC, a decrease of $1.7 billion below the FY25 enacted level. Specifically:

  • Includes $360 million, an increase of $10 million from the FY25 enacted level, for Public Health Infrastructure and Capacity.
  • Includes $185 million, an increase of $10 million from the FY25 enacted level, for Public Health Data Modernization.
  • Eliminates funding for the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, a decrease of $160 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Eliminates funding for Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention Research, a decrease of $12.5 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Eliminates funding for Tobacco Prevention and Control, a decrease of $247 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Eliminates funding for domestic and global HIV/AIDS activities:
    • Domestic HIV/AIDS Prevention and Research, a decrease of more than $1 billion from the FY25 enacted level. This includes Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, a decrease of $220 million from the FY25 enacted level.
    • Global HIV/AIDS program, a decrease of $129 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Eliminates funding for Global Tuberculosis, a decrease of $12 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Consolidates the Sexually Transmitted Infections, Domestic TB, and Infectious Diseases and the Opioid Epidemic funding lines into a new STD and Tuberculosis Prevention Grant. This is consistent with the Administration’s FY26 budget proposal.
  • Eliminates funding for Global Vaccine Preventable Diseases, a decrease of $50 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Eliminates funding for the Climate and Health Program, a decrease of $10 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Includes $35 million, an increase of $10 million from the FY25 enacted level, for the Infectious Disease Rapid Response Reserve Fund.

HRSA

The bill includes $7.1 billion for HRSA, a decrease of $886 million below the enacted FY25 level. Specifically:

  • Eliminates funding for Title X Family Planning, a decrease of $286 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Includes $1.9 billion, or level funding, for the Health Centers program.
  • Includes $1.4 billion for Health Workforce training, a decrease of $37 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Includes $985 million for Maternal and Child Health programs, a decrease of $185 million from the FY25 enacted level. This includes the elimination of the Healthy Start program.
  • Includes $2 billion for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, a decrease of $525 million from the FY25 enacted level.

SAMHSA

The bill includes $7.1 billion for SAMHSA, a decrease of $298 million from the FY25 enacted level. Specifically:

  • Includes $2.7 billion for Mental Health services, a decrease of $108 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Includes $4 billion for Substance Use Treatment services, a decrease of $150 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Includes $205 million for Substance Use Prevention services, a decrease of $32 million from the FY25 enacted level.

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

The bill includes $3.5 billion for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, a decrease of $118 million from the FY25 enacted level.

Agency for Health Care Research and Quality

The bill eliminates funding for the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, a decrease of $369 million from the FY25 enacted level.

Office of the Secretary – General Departmental Management

The bill includes $549 million for the Office of the Secretary – General Departmental Management, a decrease of $104 million from the FY25 enacted level. Specifically:

  • Eliminates funding for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, a decrease of $108 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Includes $45 million for the Office of Minority Health, a decrease of $30 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Includes $25 million for the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative, a decrease of $35 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Includes $30 million for the Office on Women’s Health, a decrease of $14 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Includes $40 million for Abstinence-Only Education, an increase of $5 million from the FY25 enacted level.
  • Includes $100 million for carrying out activities to “Make America Healthy Again.”