During its July 31 review and mark-up of legislation, Senate Appropriations Committee members expressed bipartisan support for biomedical research and passed the FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (L-HHS) Appropriations Act, the bill that provides funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The next step is for the House Appropriations Committee to advance its version of the legislation and for the House of Representatives and Senate to resolve any differences and have each chamber pass the legislation before October 1, the start of the new federal fiscal year.
The Senate Committee bill rejects the President’s Budget Request to slash NIH funding by 40% and instead proposes a $400 million increase for the NIH in the coming fiscal year. The committee provided a $10 million increase to the budget for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a $20 million increase for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and $30 million for the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH). Importantly, the bill does not include language that would restructure NIH as outlined in the President’s Budget Request.
Senate committee members also expressed concern with actions taken by the administration that prevent the timely disbursement of grant funds consistent with current appropriations law. Earlier in the week, the Office of Management and Budget finally granted NIH its full FY25 funding. However, the documentation accompanying the release included a footnote that limited funding to salaries and other administrative expenses, omitting grants and contracts. This prompted an immediate outcry and strong reactions from the appropriations committee. The footnote was subsequently removed so that NIH is not prevented from funding grants, but we are paying close attention to any further announcement clarifying the administration’s actions and impacts on the ability of grantees to draw down funds.
The House Appropriations L-HHS subcommittee is expected to work on their version of the funding bill for NIH after they return from recess. We expect the House to take a different approach to funding NIH and other public health programs, necessitating further negotiation between both chambers to come to agreement on a final bill that could pass the House and Senate. Unfortunately, after the August Recess, Congress will have little time to complete work on these bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
While the Senate bill does not slash the NIH budget, NIH funding for FY 2026 remains uncertain. We urge you to take action through our campaign today to protect NIH and provide the NIH with at least $51.303 billion for FY 2026.
The Endocrine Society continues to advocate for Congress to address the issue of insulin affordability, which continues to be an issue for millions of people living with diabetes. The Society is working closely with the co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus on legislation expected to be introduced soon that would lower the cost of insulin for people on private insurance. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) authored legislation during the previous Congress to expand the $35 co-pay cap currently available to Medicare beneficiaries to the private insurance market. The Society strongly supports this proposal, which aligns with recommendations in our Insulin Access and Affordability position statement which calls for limiting insulin co-pay caps to no more than $35 per month. The Society was a leading advocate of legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden which capped out-of-pocket costs of insulin at $35 per-month for Medicare beneficiaries. We will continue to urge Congress to pass legislation expanding that co-pay to the commercial market and address insulin affordability for people without insurance.
On July 23, Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) reintroduced the bicameral Access to Fertility Treatment and Care Act. The legislation would require more health insurers to provide coverage for infertility treatment, as well as fertility preservation services for individuals who undergo medically necessary procedures that may cause infertility, such as chemotherapy.
On February 18, President Trump issued an executive order to develop policy recommendations to expand access to IVF. The order states that within 90 days the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy will submit to the President “a list of policy recommendations on protecting IVF access and aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment.” This order does not change any current policies. The recommendations are set to focus on addressing any current policies that increase the cost of IVF treatments. The policy recommendations were expected to be released mid-May, but the Society will continue to monitor the expected release closely.
Endocrinologists are essential to IVF care, and we support access for all families across the country seeking safe and effective IVF treatment. The Society will continue to urge Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to address access to IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies and will continue to advocate for our members who treat and research infertility and other hormone health conditions.
We rely on your voice to advocate for our policy priorities. Join us to show our strength as a community that cares about endocrinology. Contact your US representatives or European Members of Parliament through our online platform. Take action and make a difference today.
