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National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding: FY1996-FY2026 Request

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National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding: FY1996-
FY2025

June 25, 2024
Kavya Sekar
FY2026 Request Updated December 22, 2025 (R43341) Jump to Main Text of Report

Summary

This report details the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget and appropriations process with This report details the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget and appropriations process with
Analyst in Health Policy
a focus on FY2024 and FY2025a focus on FY2025 and FY2026 request. NIH is the primary federal agency charged with conducting and . NIH is the primary federal agency charged with conducting and

supporting medical, health, and behavioral research. It consists of 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs) supporting medical, health, and behavioral research. It consists of 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs)
andplus the Office of the Director (OD). In addition, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for the Office of the Director (OD). In addition, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for

Health (ARPA-H), first funded in FY2022, is established as an independent agency housed Health (ARPA-H), first funded in FY2022, is established as an independent agency housed
within NIH to advance within NIH to advance "high-potential, high-impacthigh-potential, high-impact" biomedical and health research. Nearly biomedical and health research. Nearly 8382% of the NIH budget funds % of the NIH budget funds
extramural research through grants, contracts, and other awards to universities and other research institutions. About 11% of extramural research through grants, contracts, and other awards to universities and other research institutions. About 11% of
NIH funding goes to intramural researchers at NIH-operated facilities. Almost all of NIHNIH funding goes to intramural researchers at NIH-operated facilities. Almost all of NIH's funding is provided in the annual s funding is provided in the annual
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Act. NIH Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Act. NIH
also receives smaller amounts of funding from the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (INT) also receives smaller amounts of funding from the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (INT)
Appropriations Act and a mandatory budget authority for type 1 diabetes research.Appropriations Act and a mandatory budget authority for type 1 diabetes research.
FY2024 FY2025 Enacted and FY2025FY2026 Request
In FY2024, NIH received a total program level of $47.311 billion, a decrease in its overall program level (-$368 million,
or -0.8%) for the first time since FY2013. Accounting for ARPA-H, which saw level funding for FY2024 and FY2023, the
overall NIH and ARPA-H program level decreased by 0.7%. The overall program level decrease owes primarily to a
reduction in funding authorized for the 21st Century Cures Act NIH Innovation Account in FY2024: $407 million in FY2024
compared with $1,085 million in FY2023. The NIH Innovation Account is effectively exempt from discretionary spending
limits. Even with the overall decrease in funding, Congress directed FY2024 increases to certain research areas within NIH
accounts through accompanying report language, for example, for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and for mental
health.
The FY2025 budget request proposes an NIH and ARPA-H program level of $50.174 billion, an increase of $1.363 billion
(+2.8%) over the FY2024-enacted level. As proposed, most NIH ICs would see an increase, though in many cases a small
increase (less than 1%). The request also proposes two new mandatory funds for NIH: $1.448 billion for the Cancer
Moonshot initiative in FY2025, and $2.690 billion for pandemic preparedness to be made available for five years.
Accounting for this proposed mandatory funding, NIH and ARPA-H would receive a total FY2025 program level of $54.312
billion, a $5.5 billion (+11.3%) increase from FY2024-enacted levels.
Trends
NIH has seen periods of high and low funding growth during the period

In FY2025, NIH was primarily funded by the FY2025 full-year continuing resolution (CR; Division A of P.L. 119-4). The CR, for the most part, provided NIH with full-year FY2025 funding at the same levels and subject to the same conditions as provided in FY2024 appropriations (P.L. 118-47). The main exception was for the NIH Innovation Account; a provision in the FY2025 CR reduced the FY2025 NIH Innovation Account appropriation to the level authorized in the 21st Century Cures Act for FY2025 (a $280 million decrease to precision medicine and brain research). Accounting for transfers, NIH received a total program funding level of $46.995 billion in FY2025, $357 million (-0.8%) less than the FY2024 final level. Accounting for an ARPA-H appropriation of $1.5 billion, the final NIH and ARPA-H FY2025 funding level is $48.495 billion, or 0.7% less than the FY2024 NIH and ARPA-H funding level.

The FY2026 budget request proposes an NIH program level of $27.915 billion, a decrease of $19.1 billion (-40.6%) from the FY2025 enacted level. The FY2026 budget request also proposes to restructure NIH. Four ICs would be eliminated, while 19 would be consolidated into eight restructured ICs. Two NIH components would be moved out of NIH to other parts of HHS: the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and ARPA-H. In FY2026, all eight proposed ICs would see funding decreases (ranging from -21% to -44%) from comparable FY2025 levels.

Trends

NIH has seen periods of high and low funding growth during the years
covered by this report, as illustrated in covered by this report, as illustrated in Figure 1.
Between FY1996 and FY1998, funding for NIH grew from $11.928 billion to $13.675 billion (nominal dollars). Over the
next five years2. From 1998 through 2003, Congress and the President doubled the NIH budget to $27.167 billion in FY2003. In each of FY1999 , Congress and the President doubled the NIH budget to $27.167 billion in FY2003. In each of FY1999
through FY2003, NIH received annual funding increases of 14% to through FY2003, NIH received annual funding increases of 14% to 1617%. From FY2003 to FY2015, NIH funding increased %. From FY2003 to FY2015, NIH funding increased
more gradually in nominal dollars. In some years (FY2006, FY2011, and FY2013), agency funding decreased in nominal more gradually in nominal dollars. In some years (FY2006, FY2011, and FY2013), agency funding decreased in nominal
dollars. From FY2016 through FY2023, NIH saw funding increases each year dollars. From FY2016 through FY2023, NIH saw funding increases each year until FY2024.
ranging from 3% to 9%. NIH saw slight decreases in both FY2024 (-0.7%) and FY2025 (-0.8%) from the prior year's enacted funding level. When looking at NIH funding adjusted for inflation (in When looking at NIH funding adjusted for inflation (in projectedpreliminary constant constant FY2023FY2024 dollars using the Biomedical Research dollars using the Biomedical Research
and Development Price Index; BRDPI), the purchasing power of NIH funding initially peaked in FY2003—the last year of and Development Price Index; BRDPI), the purchasing power of NIH funding initially peaked in FY2003—the last year of
the five-year doubling period—and then declined fairly steadily for more than a decade until funding increases were provided the five-year doubling period—and then declined fairly steadily for more than a decade until funding increases were provided
in each of FY2016 through FY2023. In inflation-adjusted dollars, the FY2023 program level was 1.3% greater than the
FY2003 program level at the end of the doubling period. However(at a rate higher than inflation, as measured by the BRDPI) in each of FY2016 through FY2023. In FY2025, the inflation-adjusted , the inflation-adjusted FY2023NIH program level based on BRDPI projections, is estimated to be 8.8% less than the FY2003 peak level. The FY2026 request would provide an inflation-adjusted NIH program that is 47.3% below the FY2003 peak level.

NIH Funding: FY1996-FY2026 Request

program level includes
funding for the new ARPA-H and therefore is not directly comparable to the FY2003 level. Excluding ARPA-H, the
inflation-adjusted FY2023 program level is -1.8% less than the FY2003 level. With the decrease in FY2024 funding, the
adjusted NIH program level (including ARPA-H) is now less than the FY2003 peak level (-2.7%).
Congressional Research Service


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Contents
NIH Funding: FY1996-FY2025 Request ........................................................................................ 1
Funding Sources ........................................................................................................................ 2
NIH Funding: FY2023-FY2025 Request .................................................................................. 3
FY2024 Enacted ................................................................................................................. 4
FY2025 Request ................................................................................................................. 5
Trends ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Figures
Figure 1. NIH Funding, FY1996-FY2025 Request ....................................................................... 10

Tables
Table 1. Authorizations of Appropriations for NIH Innovation Projects Under the Cures
Act ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Table 2. National Institutes of Health Funding, FY2023-FY2025 .................................................. 6
Table 3. NIH Funding, FY1996-FY2025 Request ......................................................................... 11

Table A-1. Specified NIH Funding Levels in FY2024 Explanatory Statement............................. 14
Table A-2. Specified NIH Funding Levels in the FY2025 HHS Budget in Brief ......................... 16

Appendixes
Appendix A. NIH Funding Details ................................................................................................ 13
Appendix B. Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................... 18

Contacts
Author Information ........................................................................................................................ 19


Congressional Research Service

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding: FY1996-FY2025

NIH Funding: FY1996-FY2025 Request
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary federal agency for medical, health, and The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary federal agency for medical, health, and
behavioral research. It is the largest of the agencies that make up the Public Health Service (PHS) behavioral research. It is the largest of the agencies that make up the Public Health Service (PHS)
within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).1, a group of federal agencies engaged in public health activities.1 NIH consists of the Office of the NIH consists of the Office of the
Director (OD) and 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs) that focus on aspects of health, human Director (OD) and 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs) that focus on aspects of health, human
development, and biomedical science. Of these, 24 ICs and OD support research programsdevelopment, and biomedical science. Of these, 24 ICs and OD support research programs and three provide support services. The . The
OD sets overall policy for NIH and coordinates the programs and activities of all NIH OD sets overall policy for NIH and coordinates the programs and activities of all NIH
components, particularly in areas of research that involve multiple institutes. In addition, the components, particularly in areas of research that involve multiple institutes. In addition, the
Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), first funded in FY2022, is established Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), first funded in FY2022, is established
as an independent agency housed within NIH to advance as an independent agency housed within NIH to advance "high-potential, high-impacthigh-potential, high-impact
" biomedical and health research.biomedical and health research.2
2 This report details the NIH budget with a focus on This report details the NIH budget with a focus on FY2024 and the FY2025 request. Almost all of
NIH’s funding is provided in the annual Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Act. NIH also receives smaller amounts
of funding from the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (INT)
Appropriations Act and a mandatory budget authority for type 1 diabetes research.3 Through the
annual appropriations process, Congress provides funding to the 24 research ICs, OD, ARPA-H,
and a Buildings and Facilities account. Three support centers are funded through transfers from
other accounts.
NIH activities cover a wide range of basic,
Supplemental Funding for NIH
clinical, and translational research, focused on
In some years, NIH has received supplemental
particular diseases, areas of human health and
appropriations provided as an emergency requirement.
development, or more fundamental aspects of
In some years, supplemental funding to NIH was
biology and behavior. Its mission also includes
substantial, such as the over $10 bil ion in
FY2025 enacted funding and the FY2026 request. As of the date of publication, the FY2026 continuing resolution (P.L. 119-37) has funded NIH until January 30, 2026 at FY2025 enacted levels. This report does not summarize this temporary FY2026 funding.

Supplemental Funding for NIH

In some years, NIH has received supplemental appropriations provided as an emergency requirement. In some years, supplemental funding to NIH was substantial, such as the over $10 billion in appropriations provided in the American Recovery and
appropriations provided in the American Recovery and
research training and health information
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA; P.L. 111-5Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA; P.L. 111-5), which was a 33% increase to the regular FY2009 appropriations NIH received. NIH has also received supplemental appropriations during several infectious ), which
collection and dissemination.4 As of fall 2023,
was a 33% increase to the regular FY2009
nearly 83% of the NIH budget funded
appropriations NIH received. NIH has also received
extramural research (i.e., external) through
supplemental appropriations during several infectious
grants, contracts, and other awards.5 In
disease emergencies, such as for the Ebola and Zika disease emergencies, such as for the Ebola and Zika
outbreaks and for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreaks and for the Coronavirus Disease 2019
FY2025, NIH expects to support research
pandemic. Given that this report examines trends in
performed by more than 300,000 individuals
regular annual appropriations to NIH for the normal
who work at over 2,800 hospitals, medical
pandemic. Given that this report examines trends in regular annual appropriations to NIH for the normal operations of the agency, amounts provided to NIH operations of the agency, amounts provided to NIH
schools, universities, and other research
pursuant to an emergency requirement are generally pursuant to an emergency requirement are generally
institutions around the country.
excluded from this report.excluded from this report.
6 In addition, as

1 The Public Health Service (PHS) also includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry, the Food and Drug Administration, the Indian Health Service, the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and the Office of Global
Affairs.
2 CRS Report R47568, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H): Overview and Selected Issues.
3 “Mandatory spending” is controlled by authorization acts; “discretionary spending” is controlled by appropriations
acts. For further information, see CRS Report R44582, Overview of Funding Mechanisms in the Federal Budget
Process, and Selected Examples
.
4 For further information on the National Institutes of Health (NIH), see CRS Report R41705, The National Institutes of
Health (NIH): Background and Congressional Issues
.
5 NIH, “What We Do - Budget,” October 2023, at https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/budget.
6 HHS, “FY2025 Budget in Brief,” March, 2024, at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2025-budget-in-brief.pdf.
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National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding: FY1996-FY2025

of 2023, about 11% of the agency’ NIH activities cover a wide range of basic, clinical, and translational research, focused on particular diseases, areas of human health and development, or more fundamental aspects of biology and behavior. Its mission also includes research training and health information collection and dissemination.3 As of FY2023, nearly 82% of the NIH budget funded extramural research (i.e., external) through grants, contracts, and other awards. which supported research performed by more than 300,000 individuals who work at over 2,500 hospitals, medical schools, universities, and other research institutions around the country.4 In addition, as of FY2023, about 11% of the agency's budget supported intramural research (i.e., internal) s budget supported intramural research (i.e., internal)
conducted by nearly 6,000 NIH physicians and scientists, most of whom are located on the NIH conducted by nearly 6,000 NIH physicians and scientists, most of whom are located on the NIH
campus in Bethesda, MD.campus in Bethesda, MD.5 The remaining 6% of the budget supported administration, The remaining 6% of the budget supported administration,
construction, maintenance, and operations.construction, maintenance, and operations.7
6 Funding Sources
The vast majority of NIH funding comes from annual discretionary appropriations. NIH The vast majority of NIH funding comes from annual discretionary appropriations. NIH
additionally receives some mandatory funding and other funding due to unique transfer or additionally receives some mandatory funding and other funding due to unique transfer or
budgetary rules, as explained below. The total funding available for NIH activities, taking account budgetary rules, as explained below. The total funding available for NIH activities, taking account
of add-ons and transfers, is referred to as the NIH of add-ons and transfers, is referred to as the NIH "program level.program level.”8
"7 Discretionary budget authority. NIH’. The majority of NIH's discretionary budget authority s discretionary budget authority comeshas come primarily from the annual Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (LHHS), with an additional smaller amount from the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (INT). The LHHS Act has typically provided NIH funding under headers that align with its 24 research ICs, OD, ARPA-H, and a Buildings and Facilities account. Three support centers are funded through transfers from other accounts. The INT Act has provided funding specifically for the National Institute of Environmental Health Science's Hazardous Substance Basic Research and Training Program (Superfund Research Program), which supports research and training related to the health effects of hazardous substances.8 primarily from
annual LHHS Appropriations Acts, with an additional smaller amount for the Superfund Research
Program and related activities from the INT Appropriations Act.9
PHS Evaluation Set-Aside. The PHS Evaluation Set-Aside, also known as the PHS Evaluation The PHS Evaluation Set-Aside, also known as the PHS Evaluation
Tap, has the effect of redistributing a certain percentage of eligible appropriations among HHS Tap, has the effect of redistributing a certain percentage of eligible appropriations among HHS
accounts funded by the LHHS Act (up to 2.5% of eligible appropriations in accounts funded by the LHHS Act (up to 2.5% of eligible appropriations in FY2024).10FY2025).9 Eligible Eligible
appropriations potentially subject to the transfer include anyappropriations potentially subject to the transfer include any provided for programs authorized in programs authorized in
the Public Health Service Act, with some exemptions.the Public Health Service Act, with some exemptions.1110 In recent years, appropriations laws have In recent years, appropriations laws have
directed specific amounts of PHS tap funds to specific agencies. NIH has received a large share directed specific amounts of PHS tap funds to specific agencies. NIH has received a large share
of PHS Evaluation Tap transfers in recent years, specifically to the National Institute of General of PHS Evaluation Tap transfers in recent years, specifically to the National Institute of General
Medical Sciences (NIGMS). By convention, appropriations acts Medical Sciences (NIGMS). By convention, appropriations acts directhave directed where specified PHS where specified PHS
Evaluation Tap transfers are to be allocated but do not specify the accounts that are to be the Evaluation Tap transfers are to be allocated but do not specify the accounts that are to be the
sources of those transfers. Thus, tables in this report show only the amount of PHS Evaluation sources of those transfers. Thus, tables in this report show only the amount of PHS Evaluation
Tap funds received in any NIH account.Tap funds received in any NIH account.
Mandatory Type I Diabetes Funding.. In addition, NIH has received mandatory funding In addition, NIH has received mandatory funding of $150
million annually that is provided in Public Health Service Act (PHSA) Section 330B for a special provided in Public Health Service Act (PHSA) Section 330B for a special
program on type 1 diabetes research, most recently extended to December 31, 2024, by the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-42).

7 NIH, “What We Do - Budget,” October 2023, at https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/budget.
8 NIH program levels in this report reflect total funding for all Institutes and Centers (ICs), the Office of the Director
(OD), the PHS Evaluation Set-Aside (“PHS Evaluation Tap”), the Superfund Research Program, mandatory type I
diabetes research (provided in Public Health Service Act [PHSA] Section 330B), and the nonrecurring expenses fund
(NEF) when applicable.
9 The Hazardous Substance Basic Research and Training Program (Superfund Research Program) funds research on the
health effects of exposures to hazardous substances and related solutions at the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences. It is authorized by 311(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. §9660(a)) and Section 126(g) of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
of 1986.
10 Authorized by Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), 42 U.S.C. §238j. The authorizing law allows
the HHS Secretary to redistribute a portion of eligible PHS agency appropriations across HHS for program evaluation
purposes. The PHSA limits the set-aside to not less than 0.2% and not more than 1.0% of eligible program
appropriations. In recent years, annual appropriations laws have established requirements in addition to those in statute.
These include a higher maximum percentage for the set-aside and directing specific amounts of tap funding to selected
HHS programs. Since FY2010, and including in FY2024, this higher maximum set-aside level has been 2.5% of
eligible appropriations.
11 Annual appropriations laws have exempted certain appropriations from transfer that would be otherwise eligible. For
example, see Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) appropriation for mental health,
“none of the funds provided for section 1911 of the PHS Act shall be subject to section 241 of such Act” in P.L. 118-
47.
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21stprogram on type 1 diabetes research. For FY2025, funding was primarily extended to September 30, 2025, by Division B of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (P.L. 119-4).11 21st Century Cures Act Innovation Account.. NIH also receives funding through LHHS NIH also receives funding through LHHS
appropriations subject to different budget enforcement rules than the rest of the NIH funding in appropriations subject to different budget enforcement rules than the rest of the NIH funding in
the act: appropriations to the NIH Innovation Accountthe act: appropriations to the NIH Innovation Account, which was created by the created by the 21st21st Century Cures Act ( Century Cures Act ("the the
Cures Act,Cures Act," P.L. 114-255P.L. 114-255) to fund). The NIH Innovation Account funds programs authorized by the programs authorized by the Cures act for FY2017 through FY2026, as act for FY2017 through FY2026, as
shown in Table 1.1212 For Amounts appropriated appropriated amounts to the account—up the limit authorized for each to the account—up the limit authorized for each
fiscal year—fiscal year—the amounts are subtracted from any cost estimate for enforcing discretionary are subtracted from any cost estimate for enforcing discretionary
spending limits (i.e., the budget caps). In effect, appropriations to the NIH Innovation Account as spending limits (i.e., the budget caps). In effect, appropriations to the NIH Innovation Account as
authorized by the Cures Act are not subject to discretionary spending limits.authorized by the Cures Act are not subject to discretionary spending limits.1313 The NIH Director The NIH Director
may transfer these amounts from the NIH Innovation Account to other NIH accounts, but only for may transfer these amounts from the NIH Innovation Account to other NIH accounts, but only for
the purposes specified in the Cures Act. the purposes specified in the Cures Act. Innovation Account appropriations are available until expended, unlike most discretionary funding NIH receives, which has typically been made available for one year. All amounts authorized by the Cures Act have been fully All amounts authorized by the Cures Act have been fully
appropriated to the Innovation Account from FY2017 to appropriated to the Innovation Account from FY2017 to FY2024FY2025, including $, including $407127 million for FY2025.14 million for
FY2024. For FY2025, $127 million is authorized to be appropriated.
Table 1. Authorizations of Appropriations for NIH Innovation Projects
Under the Cures Act
Millions of dollarsMillions of dollars
Total
Cancer
Regenerative
Innovation
Fiscal Year
PMI
BRAIN
Moonshot
Medicine
Account
2017
40
10
300
2
352
2018
100
86
300
10
496
2019
186
115
400
10
711
2020
149
140
195
8
492
2021
109
100
195

404
2022
150
152
194

496
2023
419
450
216

1,085
2024
235
172


407
2025
36
91


127
2026
31
195


226
TOTAL
1,455
1,511
1,800
30
4,766
Source:

Fiscal Year

PMI

BRAIN

Cancer Moonshot

Regenerative Medicine

Total Innovation Account

2017

40

10

300

2

352

2018

100

86

300

10

496

2019

186

115

400

10

711

2020

149

140

195

8

492

2021

109

100

195

404

2022

150

152

194

496

2023

419

450

216

1,085

2024

235

172

407

2025

36

91

127

2026

31

195

226

TOTAL

1,455

1,511

1,800

30

4,796

Source:
P.L. 114-255, Section 1001(b)(4).P.L. 114-255, Section 1001(b)(4).
Notes: PMI= Precision Medicine Initiative, BRAIN= Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative PMI= Precision Medicine Initiative, BRAIN= Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative
Neurotechnologies.Neurotechnologies.
NIH Funding: FY2023-FY2025 Request
FY2025-FY2026 Request Table 2 Table 2
provides an overview of recentprovides an overview of recent- year NIH funding from year NIH funding from FY2023FY2024 final appropriations to final appropriations to
proposed amounts in the proposed amounts in the FY2025FY2026 budget request. The first section of the table summarizes budget request. The first section of the table summarizes
discretionary funding to each of NIHdiscretionary funding to each of NIH's accounts in annual LHHS appropriations, ending with the s accounts in annual LHHS appropriations, ending with the
total discretionary amount enacted or proposed in LHHS each year. Next, the table summarizes total discretionary amount enacted or proposed in LHHS each year. Next, the table summarizes
funding by other sources (see previous section) and then summarizes the total NIH program level funding by other sources (see previous section) and then summarizes the total NIH program level
for each year accounting for all sources of funds. In this table, ARPA-H funding is presented for each year accounting for all sources of funds. In this table, ARPA-H funding is presented

12 See section on 21st Century Cures Act in CRS Report R41705, The National Institutes of Health (NIH): Background
and Congressional Issues
.
13 CRS Report R45778, Exceptions to the Budget Control Act’s Discretionary Spending Limits.
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separately from the rest of NIH, and thus a separate “NIH and ARPA-H” program level is shown.
The table ends with proposed mandatory funding in the President’s budget requests.
The following discussion provides a summary of enacted and proposed NIH funding in FY2024
and FY2025, respectively, with a discussion of highlighted changes in each year.
FY2024 Enacted
As shown inseparately from the rest of NIH, and thus a separate "NIH and ARPA-H" program level is shown.

The following discussion provides a summary of enacted and proposed NIH funding in FY2025 and FY2026, respectively, with a discussion of highlighted changes in each year.

FY2025 Final

In FY2025, NIH was primarily funded by the FY2025 full-year CR (Division A of P.L. P.L. 119-4).15 The CR, for the most part, provided NIH with full-year FY2025 funding at the same levels and subject to the same conditions as funding provided in FY2024 appropriations (P.L. 118-47). The one exception was for the NIH Innovation Account; as previously mentioned, a provision in the FY2025 CR reduced the FY2025 NIH Innovation Account appropriation to the level authorized in the 21st Century Cures Act for FY2025 (a $280 million scheduled decrease to the Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) and the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative).

As shown in Table 2, accounting for transfers and funding from other sources (e.g., mandatory appropriations), NIH received a total program funding level of $46.995 billion in FY2025. Accounting for an ARPA-H appropriation of $1.5 billion, the final NIH and ARPA-H FY2025 funding level is $48.495 billion. This final FY2025 total funding level is $357 million less than the comparable FY2024 final level. This year-to-year decrease is primarily because of the decrease in authorized (and appropriated) funding for the NIH Innovation Account (a $280 million decrease) and because of differences in total funding provided for the mandatory type 1 diabetes research program in FY2025 compared to FY2024 (a $76.7 million decrease). Otherwise, all other NIH accounts saw the same funding level in FY2025 as in FY2024.16 In FY2024, through an accompanying explanatory statement, Congress specified funding for certain programs and activities within NIH accounts, such as funding for Alzheimer's disease research and mental health research (see Appendix A).17 Besides these limited specific directives, Congress has not typically directed NIH funding for specific diseases or projects. Instead, Congress has allocated funding among NIH's ICs accounts, giving the ICs flexibility to determine overall funding levels for specific programs and research areas. The FY2025 CR was not accompanied by an explanatory statement or report. As of the cover date of this report, the post-enactment allocations for particular programs, projects, and activities are not consistently available through public executive branch sources.

This report focuses on annual appropriations levels, or the annual level of regular budget authority available to NIH for obligation and spending. This report does not focus on NIH's obligations and expenditures from these appropriations. While not a focus of this report, in August 2025, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined that publicly available data showed a decline in FY2025 obligations and expenditures relative to prior fiscal years. Between February and June 2025, NIH obligated $8 billion less than it had in the same time period for FY2024, and roughly 62%-64% of what the agency had obligated in the same time period in FY2023 and FY2024.18 Since GAO published this report, in November 2025, CRS analyzed available NIH budget data and found that the agency obligated almost all of its FY2025 discretionary budget authority by the end of FY2025. The agency's total obligations in FY2025 were similar to FY2024. All NIH accounts funded by one-year discretionary appropriations had obligated close to 100% of available FY2025 appropriations.19

FY2026 Request

For FY2026, President Trump requests a total NIH program level of $27.915 billion from all funding sources. This represents a 40.6% reduction from the comparable FY2025 NIH program level of $46.995 billion (excluding ARPA-H).

NIH Restructuring Significantly, the President's FY2026 budget proposes to reduce NIH's 24 current research ICs to eight research ICs. Four ICs would be eliminated, while 19 would be consolidated into eight restructured ICs as shown in Figure 1. Two NIH components would be moved out of NIH to other parts of HHS: the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and ARPA-H (see next section). According to the budget request, the "restructuring will create efficiencies within NIH that will allow the agency to focus on true science, and coordinate research to make the best use of federal funds."20 Table 2 provides a comparison of the FY2026 total proposed NIH funding with FY2024 final and FY2025 enacted funding. It displays funding organized by the proposed new ICs for FY2024, FY2025, and FY2026, along with FY2024 and FY2025 funding as enacted based on the prior IC structure (shown as non-adds in the table). The table also shows NIH funding data for certain transfers or other budget authorities as summarized earlier. In FY2026, all eight proposed ICs would see decreases from prior comparable FY2024 and FY2025 levels (ranging from -21% to -44%).

Figure 1. Proposed NIH Reorganization for FY2026

Source: HHS, Budget in Brief FY2026, p. 22, https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2026-budget-in-brief.pdf

Notes: The President's FY2026 request proposes to eliminate the National Institutes for Nursing Research, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Fogarty International Center, and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
ARPA-H
In FY2022 Congress established ARPA-H within NIH to support milestone-based research aimed at driving health innovation. ARPA-H is an independent agency and is not considered an NIH IC.21 However, ARPA-H is placed within NIH by statute and has received appropriations in an NIH account for both FY2024 and FY2025 as shown in Table 2.22 The FY2026 budget proposes moving ARPA-H out of NIH under a new Assistant Secretary for a Healthy Future (ASHF) with a FY2026 funding level of $945 million (compared to $1.5 billion in FY2025).23 Therefore, the FY2026 requested funding level for ARPA-H is not reflected in Table 2. Potential Impact on Funded Research

NIH estimates that the FY2026 funding level would support 4,312 new competing research grants, a decrease of 29.3% from the number of competing grants supported by the FY2025 funding level (6,095 grants) and an even greater decrease from the FY2024 level of 10,086 competing grants.24 This decrease is explained by both an overall proposed funding level decrease and NIH's new multiyear grants funding policy which results in fewer, but larger, grant awards (see next section for further explanation). All other categories of research would also see decreases compared to FY2025 funding levels ranging from 27% to 43%, including NIH's support of research centers, training, and intramural research.25

Policy Proposals

The FY2026 request also includes several policy proposals for NIH, specifically:

Indirect costs rate cap: The FY2026 request proposes to continue an NIH policy announced in February 2025 to cap the amount of NIH grant funds that can pay for facilities and administrative (F&A, or indirect) costs at 15% of the applicable direct cost base for each award. The request also proposes to eliminate an annual provision in LHHS appropriations acts that limits NIH's ability to modify its indirect costs rate policy. As of the date of publication, NIH's implementation of the February 2025 indirect costs policy was permanently enjoined (i.e., paused) by a Massachusetts federal court in April 2025.26 Currently, most NIH-funded research institutions have a separate indirect cost rate that is applied to a portion of the direct research costs supported by any research grant the institution receives. According to a 2025 economics study based on data from 354 NIH-funded institutions, most institutions' negotiated rates were between 50% and 70%, averaging 58%. However, effective indirect costs rates, meaning the amount of the grant that has effectively covered indirect costs, ranged between 25% and 45% and averaged 42%.27 According the budget request, the policy change will "maximize the impact of NIH research investments" by increasing the share of each grant that is directly spent on research.28 For further background on NIH indirect costs policy, see CRS Insight IN12516, NIH Indirect Costs Policy for Research Grants: Recent Developments.
  • Multiyear grants: The FY2026 NIH budget request also proposes to continue a FY2025 policy to reserve half of NIH's budget allocation for competing research project grants for awards that fully fund the grant across multiple years. Under recent practice, most NIH research project grants are committed for multiple years, but funding for the grant is obligated each year of the grant period as a noncompeting grant continuation.29 To illustrate, under this policy, FY2026 appropriations might be used to fully fund a three-year project spanning FY2026-FY2028, instead of funding such a project with a combination of funds appropriated in each of those three years. According to the request, the new policy will "increase NIH budget flexibility by no longer encumbering large portions of each year's appropriation for the continuation of research projects that were initiated in previous years."30 For more information, see CRS In Focus IF13131, NIH Grants Policy Under the Second Trump Administration
  • Table 2. National Institutes of Health Funding, FY2024-FY2026 Request

    (budget authority, in millions of dollars)

    FY2025-FY2026 Request

    Account or Program

    FY2024 Final

    FY2025 Enacted

    FY2026 Request

    Dollar Change

    Percentage Change

    National Cancer Institute (NCI)

    7,221.2

    7,221.2

    4,530.8

    -2,690.4

    -37.3%

    National Institute on Body Systems (NIBS)a (proposed institute)

    6,985.9*

    6,985.9*

    4,152.1

    -2,833.8

    -40.6%

    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

    3,985.2

    3,985.2

    National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

    687.6

    687.6

    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)b

    2,313.1

    2,313.1

    National Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research (NINBR)c (proposed institute)

    4,015.7*

    4,015.7*

    2,445.0

    -1,570.7

    -39.1%

    National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

    520.1

    520.1

    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)c

    2,599.4

    2,599.4

    National Eye Institute (NEI)

    896.1

    896.1

    National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)d (proposed institute)

    4,356.1*

    4,356.1*

    3,427.3

    -928.8

    -21.3%

    National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)e

    1,832.2

    1,832.2

    National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

    659.7

    659.7

    National Library of Medicine (NLM)

    495.3

    495.3

    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)

    440.6

    440.6

    National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

    928.3

    928.3

    National Institute for Child and Women's Health, Sensory Disorders and Communications (NICWHSDC) (proposed institute)

    2,292.1*

    2,292.1*

    1,413.6

    -878.5

    -38.3%

    National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

    1,757.8

    1,757.8

    National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

    534.3

    534.3

    National Institute of Behavioral Health (NIBH) (proposed institute)

    4,452.1*

    4,452.1*

    2,784.7

    -1,667.4

    -37.5%

    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

    597.1

    597.1

    National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

    1,663.4

    1,663.4

    National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH)

    2,191.7

    2,191.7

    National Institute on Aging (NIA)

    4,512.1

    4,512.1

    2,686.5

    -1,825.6

    -40.5%

    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

    6,561.7

    6,561.7

    4,175.0

    -2,386.7

    -36.4%

    Office of the Director (OD)f

    2,597.4

    2,597.4

    1,455.1

    -1,142.3

    -44.0%

    Innovation Accountg

    407.0

    127.0

    226.0

    N/A

    N/A

    Buildings and Facilities (B&F)

    350.0

    350.0

    210.0

    -140.0

    -40.0%

    National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

    913.8

    913.8

    N/Ah

    N/A

    N/A

    National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

    197.7

    197.7

    0.0

    -197.7

    -100.0%

    National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

    170.4

    170.4

    0.0

    -170.4

    -100.0%

    National Institute on Minority and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

    535.1

    535.1

    0.0

    -535.1

    -100.0%

    Fogarty International Center (FIC)

    95.1

    95.1

    0.0

    -95.1

    -100.0%

    Subtotal, NIH (LHHS Discretionary Budget Authority)

    45,663.5

    45,383.5

    27,506.1

    -17.877.4

    -39.4%

    PHS Program Evaluation (provided to NIGMS)

    1,412.5

    1,412.5

    250.0

    -1,162.5

    -82.3%

    Superfund (Interior appropriation to NIEHS)i

    79.7

    79.7

    N/Aj

    N/A

    N/A

    Mandatory Type 1 diabetes funds (to NIDDK)k

    195.8

    119.1

    159.0l

    39.9

    33.5%

    Total, NIH Program Level

    47,351.5

    46,994.8

    27,915.1

    -19,079.7

    -40.6%

    Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

    1,500.0

    1,500.0

    N/Am

    N/A

    N/A

    Grand total, NIH and ARPA-H Program Level

    48,851.5

    48,494.8

    27,915.1

    -20,579.7

    -42.4%

    Source: NIH, Overview of FY2026 President's Budget, pp. 65-67, https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY26/br/ NIH%20FY%202026%20CJ%20Overview.pdf. Innovation Account numbers are from Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Technical Supplement to the 2026 Budget, p. 353, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/ 2025/05/appendix_fy2026.pdf.

    Notes: LHHS = Labor, HHS, and Education; N/A = not applicable, particularly for entities that are proposed to be moved outside of NIH in the FY2026 budget. Table displays funding organized by the proposed new ICs for FY2024, FY2025, and FY2026, along with FY2024 and FY2025 funding as enacted based on the prior IC structure (shown in the table as non-adds, i.e., components included for illustrative purposes and not counted as separate line items when generating totals). Thus, FY2024 funding levels and FY2025 totals used to calculate the dollar and percentage change displayed in this table do not reflect enacted law and are denoted as such with an asterisk (*). Program- or account-level totals, shown in italics, are considered non-adds. An em dash (—) indicates an FY2026 funding amount for a preexisting NIH IC that is shown as a non-add. Amounts are shown as 0.0 when the request has proposed to reduce a certain line item to 0 in FY2026. Components may not sum to totals due to rounding. Amounts shown may differ from actual values. Final and estimated FY2025 and FY2026 funding levels reflect most transfers and other adjustments. By convention, funding transfers to the Public Health Service (PHS) Evaluation set-aside are not subtracted from the agencies' appropriations in budget tables. In general, amounts provided to NIH for emergency requirements are excluded from these totals and, therefore, differ from amounts reported by OMB. This table does not include funding that NIH receives from gifts or other collections, as these amounts are not available in source materials.

    a. Amounts for the proposed NIBS do not include mandatory Type 1 diabetes funding, shown later in the table. b. Amounts for the NIDDK do not include mandatory Type 1 diabetes funding, shown later in the table. c. FY2024 and FY2025 amounts do not reflect transfers from the Cures Act Innovation Account to NINDS for NIH's Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. d. Amounts for NIGMS do not include funds from the PHS Evaluation set-aside (PHS Act [PHSA], §241). e. Amounts reflect NIGMS funding as enacted (excluding the PHS Evaluation tap transfer into this IC) for FY2024 and FY2025, not as proposed for FY2026, which would consolidate NHGRI, NLM, NIBIB, and NCATS into NIGMS. f. Amounts for OD include transfer from the Pediatric Research Initiative Fund (PRIF) as authorized by the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act. FY2024 and FY2025 amounts account for a transfer of $5 million to the Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General. g. Innovation Account amounts are to be transferred to other accounts. For FY2024, of the total $172 million for the BRAIN Initiative, $86 million was transferred to each of NINDS and NIMH, respectively. The total $235 million for the Precision Medicine Initiative was transferred to OD. For FY2025, of the total $91 million for the BRAIN Initiative, $45.5 million was transferred to each of NINDS and NIMH, respectively. The total $36 million for the Precision Medicine Initiative was transferred to OD. For the FY2026 request, NINBR and NIBH are expected to each receive a transfer of $97.5 million of the total $195 million for the BRAIN Initiative, based on past practice. The total $31 million for PMI would go to OD. h. The FY2026 budget request proposes moving NIEHS to the new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) with a requested funding level of $594 million within AHA. i. This is a separate account in the Interior/Environmental appropriations for NIEHS research activities related to Superfund research. j. The FY2026 budget request proposes moving the NIEHS Superfund program to the new AHA with a requested funding level of $52 million within AHA. k. Mandatory funds are available to NIDDK for Type 1 diabetes research under PHSA Section 330B, which was most recently extended through September 30, 2025. l. The budget request proposes $159 million in new mandatory funding for FY2026 under PHSA Section 330B (42 U.S.C. §254c-2). See NIH, Overview of FY2026 President's Budget Proposal, p. 65. m. The FY2026 budget request proposes moving ARPA-H under a new Assistant Secretary for a Healthy Future (ASHF) with an FY2026 funding level of $945 million. Trends Table 3 outlines NIH program level funding from FY1996 to the FY2026 request. Figure 2 illustrates funding trends in both current (also called nominal dollars) and preliminary constant (i.e., inflation-adjusted) FY2024 dollars (funding shown is total budget authority). These figures reflect NIH's program level without ARPA-H funding. Table 2, in FY2024-enacted appropriations, NIH received a total program level of
    $47.311 billion, a decrease in its overall program level from the prior year (-$368 million,
    or -0.8%) for the first time since FY2013 (see Table 3). Accounting for ARPA-H, which saw
    level funding for FY2024 and FY2023, the overall NIH and ARPA-H program level decreased by
    0.7%. The overall program level decrease owes primarily to a reduction in funding authorized for
    the 21st Century Cures Act NIH Innovation Account, which is effectively exempt from
    discretionary spending limits: $407 million in FY2024 compared with $1,085 million in FY2023
    (see previous section and Table 1). In terms of LHHS discretionary budget authority effectively
    subject to the spending limits, NIH actually received an increase in FY2024 funding relative to
    FY2023 enacted (+305 million; +0.7%). However, this increase in discretionary funding did not
    fully compensate for the effect of the decreased Cures Act Innovation Account authorization level
    in FY2024.
    The NIH account that saw the largest increase relative to FY2023 was the National Institute on
    Aging (NIA), an increase of $96 million (+2.2%), which included an increase of $90 million for
    Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias research (see below and Table A-1). Several NIH
    accounts, all of which have received Cures Act transfers, saw notable decreases in FY2024
    funding when accounting for such transfers: (1) the National Cancer Institute (-$93 million,
    or -1.3%); (2) the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS; -$119
    million, or -4.3%); and (3) the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; -$68 million,
    or -3.2%). These decreases reflect reductions in authorized funding for the Cancer Moonshot and
    BRAIN initiative programs under the Cures Act, as shown in Table 1. When not accounting for
    Cures Act transfers, all three accounts saw increases in LHHS discretionary budget authority, as
    shown in Table 2.
    In addition, through accompanying report language, Congress directed increases for program
    funding within NIH accounts, even when those accounts did not see increases in their overall
    FY2024 funding level relative to FY2023. For the most part, Congress has not specified NIH
    funding for particular diseases or research topics through appropriations and instead allows the
    ICs to award funding within their mission areas based on their own strategic planning and
    priority-setting processes. However, there are some exceptions, as summarized in Table A-1.
    Some selected directed increases include the following:
    Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias: An increase of $100 million across
    NIH, including $10 million for NINDS and $90 million for NIA.
    Mental health research: An increase of $75 million for the NIMH to fund
    mental health diagnosis, treatment, and prevention research, including the impact
    of social media on mental health.
    Lyme and tick-borne disease: $100 million for the National Institute of Allergy
    and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). In FY2023, NIH spent a total of $99 million on
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    tickborne disease research across all ICs, including $93 million funded by
    NIAID.14
    FY2025 Request
    Under the Biden Administration’s FY2025 request, NIH would receive a program level of
    $48.674 billion, an increase of $1.363 billion relative to FY2024 enacted (+2.9%,) as shown in
    Table 2. (Note that the FY2025 request was formulated before FY2024-enacted appropriations
    were finalized.)15
    As proposed, most IC accounts would receive an increase in funding compared with FY2024-
    enacted levels, though in many cases a small increase (less than 1%). The accounts that would see
    decreases are (1) the National Institute on Aging ($82 million decrease, or -1.8%), (2) the
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities ($7.7 million decrease, or -1.4%),
    and (3) the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences ($2.2 million decrease,
    or -0.2%).16 ARPA-H would see level funding with FY2024-enacted appropriations: $1.500
    billion. The Innovation Account would receive the full amount authorized to be appropriated:
    $127 million.17
    The budget request also proposes two new sources of mandatory funding for NIH: $1.448 billion
    in new mandatory funding for the Cancer Moonshot for FY2025 and $2.69 billion in new
    mandatory funding for pandemic preparedness, to be made available for five years. Accounting
    for this proposed mandatory funding, NIH and ARPA-H would receive a total FY2025 program
    level of $54.312 billion, a $5.5 billion (11.3%) increase from FY2024 enacted.
    The mandatory Cancer Moonshot proposed funding would go to the National Cancer Institute,
    which, in addition to $742 million in proposed discretionary funding, would provide for an
    overall FY2025 Cancer Moonshot funding level of $2.164 billion. The Cancer Moonshot is
    President Biden’s initiative to cut the U.S. death rate from cancer by 50% over the next 25 years
    and to improve the experience of patients and their families living with cancer.18 The new
    mandatory Cancer Moonshot funding would extend the expired Cures Act authorization for the
    Cancer Moonshot initiative (see Table 1 ). The total program funding would support related
    research, training, and health education activities.19 The $2.960 billion pandemic preparedness
    funding is NIH’s portion of $20 billion in total mandatory funding proposed across HHS, to be
    appropriated to the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, according to the
    request.20 The proposal generally does not designate specific amounts for NIH ICs but describes a

    14 CRS analysis of NIH’s Estimates of Funding for Various Research, Condition, and Disease Categories (RCDC) data,
    last updated May 14, 2024, available at https://report.nih.gov/funding/categorical-spending#/.
    15 The Biden Administration published its FY2025 budget request, including NIH-specific documents, on March 11,
    2024. The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-47), which included final LHHS appropriations,
    became law on March 23, 2024.
    16 Accounting for proposed transfers and other funding sources. Excluding the PHS evaluation tap transfer, the National
    Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) would see a decrease of $601.3 million compared with FY2024
    enacted (-18.5%). Excluding the mandatory type 1 diabetes funding, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
    and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) would also see a slight decrease compared with FY2024 enacted.
    17 NIH, Overview of FY 2025 President’s Budget Proposal, p. 47, at https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY25/br/
    Overview%20of%20FY%202025%20Presidents%20Budget.pdf.
    18 CRS In Focus IF12504, The Cancer Moonshot: Overview and Issues.
    19 NIH, Overview of FY 2025 President’s Budget Proposal, p. 8, at https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY25/br/
    Overview%20of%20FY%202025%20Presidents%20Budget.pdf.
    20 Called “biodefense” in the HHS Budget in Brief. HHS, Budget in Brief: FY2025, p. 171, at https://www.hhs.gov/
    sites/default/files/fy-2025-budget-in-brief.pdf.
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    number of activities the new funding would support, including vaccine and therapeutic
    development, expanding laboratory capacity, and developing next-generation diagnostics.21 This
    is the third year in which the Administration has proposed mandatory pandemic preparedness
    funding; Congress has not adopted the proposal to date.
    The Administration estimates that the proposed FY2025 funding level would support 43,636
    research project grants, an increase of 460 from FY2023 enacted, with a total of 10,273 new and
    competing grants.22 With respect to specific research areas and initiatives, some highlights and
    increases from the request include the following:23
    Women’s health research: The FY2025 request includes $154 million for the Office of
    Women’s Health research within the Office of the Director, an increase of $76 million
    from both FY2023 and FY2024 enacted, each of which provided $76.5 million.24 The
    new funds are intended to support research on topics such as research in menopause and
    diabetes, opioid use disorder in pregnant women, and alcohol use during pregnancy. NIH
    also intends to create a new nationwide network of centers of excellence and innovation
    in women’s health.
    Mental and behavioral health: The FY2025 request includes an increase of $200
    million relative to FY2023 for the National Institute of Mental Health to support better
    diagnostics, improved treatments, and enhanced precision of care for mental health.
    Compared with FY2024 enacted, NIMH would see a $274.8 million (12.1%) increase
    under the FY2025 request (accounting for Cures Act transfers), per the table below.
    See Table A-2 for a summary of specific program funding requested in the FY2025 budget
    request.
    Table 2. National Institutes of Health Funding, FY2023-FY2025
    (budget authority, in millions of dollars)
    FY2023
    FY2024
    FY2024
    FY2025
    Institutes/Centers
    Final
    Request
    Enacted
    Request
    Cancer Institute (NCI)
    $7,101
    $7,820
    $7,224
    $7,839
    Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
    $3,985
    $3,985
    $3,982
    $3,997
    Dental/Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
    $520
    $520
    $520
    $522
    Diabetes/Digestive/Kidney (NIDDK)a
    $2,303
    $2,303
    $2,311
    $2,310
    Neurological Disorders/Stroke (NINDS)
    $2,584
    $2,739
    $2,604
    $2,788
    Allergy/Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
    $6,562
    $6,562
    $6,562
    $6,581
    General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)b
    $1,827
    $1,292
    $1,832
    $1,231
    Child Health/Human Development (NICHD)
    $1,748
    $1,748
    $1,759
    $1,766
    National Eye Institute (NEI)
    $896
    $896
    $897
    $899
    Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)c
    $914
    $939
    $914
    $917

    21 NIH, Overview of FY 2025 President’s Budget Proposal, pp. 19-20, at https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY25/
    br/Overview%20of%20FY%202025%20Presidents%20Budget.pdf.
    22 HHS, Budget in Brief: FY2025, p. 54, at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2025-budget-in-brief.pdf.
    23 HHS, Budget in Brief: FY2025, pp. 47-51, at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2025-budget-in-brief.pdf.
    24 Congressional Record, vol. 168, no. 198, Book II, December 20, 2022, pp. S8881-S8887, S8853 and Congressional
    Record
    , vol. 170, no. 51, Book II, March 22, 2024, p. H1891.
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    FY2023
    FY2024
    FY2024
    FY2025
    Institutes/Centers
    Final
    Request
    Enacted
    Request
    National Institute on Aging (NIA)
    $4,412
    $4,412
    $4,508
    $4,425
    Arthritis/Musculoskeletal/Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
    $688
    $688
    $685
    $690
    Deafness/Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
    $534
    $534
    $534
    $536
    Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism (NIAAA)
    $597
    $597
    $198
    $198
    Nursing Research (NINR)
    $198
    $198
    $595
    $599
    National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
    $1,663
    $1,663
    $1,663
    $1,668
    National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
    $2,117
    $2,456
    $2,188
    $2,503
    Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
    $661
    $661
    $663
    $664
    Biomedical Imaging/Bioengineering (NIBIB)
    $441
    $441
    $441
    $442
    Complementary/Integrative Health (NCCIH)
    $170
    $170
    $170
    $171
    Minority Health/Health Disparities (NIMHD)
    $525
    $525
    $534
    $527
    Fogarty International Center (FIC)
    $95
    $95
    $95
    $95
    National Library of Medicine (NLM)
    $495
    $495
    $498
    $527
    Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
    $923
    $923
    $928
    $926
    Office of Director (OD)d
    $2,647
    $2,903
    $2,606
    $3,013
    (Common Fund)
    ($722.4)
    ($722.4)
    ($672.4)
    ($722.4)
    (Office for Research on Women’s Health)
    ($76.5)
    ($76.6)
    ($76.5)
    ($153.9)
    Buildings and Facilities (B&F)
    $350
    $350
    $350
    $350
    Subtotal, NIH (LHHS Discretionary BA)
    $44,957
    $45,915
    $45,262
    $46,185
    Cures Act Innovation Accounte
    $1,085
    $407
    $407
    $127
    PHS Program Evaluation (provided to NIGMS)
    $1,412
    $1,948
    $1,412
    $2,018
    Superfund (Interior approp. to NIEHS)f
    $83
    $83
    $80
    $83
    Mandatory type 1 diabetes funds (to NIDDK)g
    $141
    $250h
    $150
    $260h
    NIH Program Level
    $47,678
    $48,603
    $47,311
    $48,674
    Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
    $1,500
    $2,500
    $1,500
    $1,500
    (ARPA-H)i
    NIH and ARPA-H Program Level
    $49,178
    $51,103
    $48,811
    $50,174
    Pandemic Preparedness (proposed mandatory)j

    $2,690

    $2,690
    Cancer Moonshot (proposed mandatory)



    $1,448
    Total w/ Proposed mandatory
    $49,178
    $53,793
    $48,811
    $54,312
    Source: FY2024 request and FY2024 enacted numbers from Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 170, no. 51,
    Book 11, March 22, 2024, pp. H2022-H2025, accessed at https://www.congress.gov/118/crec/2024/03/22/170/51/
    CREC-2024-03-22-bk2.pdf, and P.L. 118-47. FY2023 final and FY2025 request numbers from NIH, Overview of
    FY2025 President’s Budget,
    pp. 100, 101, at https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY25/br/
    Overview%20of%20FY%202025%20Presidents%20Budget.pdf, and ARPA-H, Congressional Justification: FY2025,
    p. 9, accessed at https://arpa-h.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/ARPA-H%20FY%202025.pdf, except where noted
    below.
    Notes: Table shows selected non-add amounts found in the explanatory statement. Totals may differ from the
    sum of the components due to rounding. Amounts in table may differ from actuals in some cases. By convention,
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    budget tables such as Table 2 do not subtract the amount of transfers to the evaluation tap from the agencies’
    appropriation. In general, amounts provided to NIH for emergency requirements are excluded from these totals.
    a. Amounts for the NIDDK do not include mandatory funding for type 1 diabetes research (see note h).
    b. Amounts for NIGMS do not include funds from PHS Evaluation Set-Aside (§241 of the PHS Act).
    c. Amounts for NIEHS do not include Interior/Environment Appropriations amount for Superfund research
    (see note g).
    d. Includes $12.6 mil ion transfer from the Pediatric Research Initiative Fund (PRIF) as initially authorized by
    the Gabriella Mil er Kids First Research Act (P.L. 113-94).
    e. Innovation account amounts are transferred to specific Institutes and Centers in accordance with the 21st
    Century Cures Act (P.L. 114-255). In FY2023, NCI received $216 mil ion, and each of NINDS and NIMH
    received $225 mil ion, with $419 mil ion remaining in the Innovation Account. For FY2024, expected
    allocations include $86 mil ion allocated to each of NINDS and NIMH and $235 mil ion remaining in the
    Innovation Account. For FY2025, expected allocations include $45.5 mil ion allocated to each of NINDS and
    NIMH and $36 mil ion remaining in the Innovation Account. See footnote 77 in HHS, Budget in Brief:
    FY2025,
    p. 52, https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2025-budget-in-brief.pdf.
    f.
    This is a separate account in the Interior/Environment appropriations for NIEHS research activities related
    to Superfund research.
    g. Mandatory funds are available to NIDDK for type 1 diabetes research under PHSA Section 330B (42 U.S.C.
    §254c-2), which was most recently extended through December 31, 2024. The FY2023 amount for the type
    I diabetes research program ($141 mil ion) is lower than funding level in law for FY2023 ($150 mil ion),
    reflecting sequestration of $8.55 mil ion. See “Budget Mechanism Table,” p. 50, in
    https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY25/br/Overview%20of%20FY%202025%20Presidents%20Budget.pdf
    h. Proposed amount.
    i.
    ARPA-H was funded under a separate account under the Office of the Secretary in FY2023. For FY2023,
    ARPA-H authorizing legislation in Division FF (P.L. 117-328) established it as a component of NIH. In
    FY2024, ARPA-H was funded under an account within NIH.
    j.
    The FY2024 and FY2025 requests propose new mandatory funding for pandemic preparedness to be
    available for five years. The requests propose an HHS-wide total of $20 bil ion for pandemic preparedness,
    with $2.69 bil ion of the total designated for NIH. This amount is shown as a non-add in the requests. See
    NIH, Overview of FY2024 President’s Budget, March 9, 2023, p. 7, and NIH, Overview of FY2025 President’s
    Budget,
    March 11, 2024, p. 19-20.
    Trends
    Table 3
    outlines NIH program level funding from FY1996 to the FY2025 request. Figure 1
    illustrates funding trends in both current (also called nominal dollars) and projected constant (i.e.,
    inflation-adjusted) FY2023 dollars (funding shown is total budget authority).
    NIH has seen periods of high and low funding growth. Between FY1996 and FY1998, funding NIH has seen periods of high and low funding growth. Between FY1996 and FY1998, funding
    for NIH grew from $11.928 billion to $13.675 billion (nominal dollars). Over the next five years, for NIH grew from $11.928 billion to $13.675 billion (nominal dollars). Over the next five years,
    Congress and the President doubled the NIH budget to $27.167 billion in FY2003 (often referred Congress and the President doubled the NIH budget to $27.167 billion in FY2003 (often referred
    to as the NIH budget doubling period). In each of FY1999 through FY2003, NIH received annual to as the NIH budget doubling period). In each of FY1999 through FY2003, NIH received annual
    funding increases of 14funding increases of 14.0% to 16% to 16.5%. From FY2003 to FY2015, NIH funding increased more %. From FY2003 to FY2015, NIH funding increased more
    gradually in nominal dollars.gradually in nominal dollars.2531 In some years, (FY2006, FY2011, and FY2013) funding for the In some years, (FY2006, FY2011, and FY2013) funding for the
    agency decreased in nominal dollars.agency decreased in nominal dollars.2632 From FY2016 through FY2023, NIH received funding increases each year. The largest annual From FY2016 through FY2023, NIH received funding

    25 Amounts shown in Table 3 include appropriations for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (FY2002-
    FY2011) that were subject to transfer-out. As of FY2012, NIH no longer receives appropriations for the National
    Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) identifying resources for the Global Fund; this responsibility was
    transferred to another federal agency. For further details on the amounts transferred out by fiscal year, see the
    “Supplemental Appropriation Data Table” for “History of Congressional Appropriations, Fiscal Years 2000-2012” at
    http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/approp_hist.html.
    26 For instance, the FY2006 total was 0.1% lower than the previous year, the first time that NIH appropriations had
    decreased since FY1970; the FY2011 total, provided in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (P.L. 112-
    (continued...)
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    increases each year. The largest percentage increase was from FY2017 to FY2018, where the percentage increase was from FY2017 to FY2018, where the
    program level increased by $3.010 billion (+8.8%), making this the largest program level increased by $3.010 billion (+8.8%), making this the largest single-year percentage increase percentage increase
    since FY2003. As noted earlier, the FY2024 program level marks the first decrease since FY2013,
    representing a 0.7% decrease from the FY2023 level (including ARPA-H funding). The FY2025
    since FY2003. Both the FY2024 and FY2025 program levels saw slight decreases from the prior years (-0.7% and -0.8%). The FY2026 budget request would provide a budget request would provide a 2.8% increase to the FY2024-40.6% decrease from the FY2025 enacted level.enacted level.
    The lower half ofThe lower half of Figure 1 2 shows NIH funding adjusted for inflation (in shows NIH funding adjusted for inflation (in projectedpreliminary constant constant
    FY2023FY2024 dollars) using the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI). dollars) using the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI).2733 It It
    shows that the purchasing power of NIH funding initially peaked in FY2003 (the last year of the shows that the purchasing power of NIH funding initially peaked in FY2003 (the last year of the
    five-year doubling period) and then declined fairly steadily for more than a decade until
    consecutive funding increases were provided in each of FY2016 through FY2023. The FY2023
    program level was 1.2% greater than the peak FY2003 program level, although the FY2023
    program level included funding for a new agency, ARPA-H, and therefore was not exactly
    comparable to the FY2003 level. Once again in FY2024, the NIH program level (including
    ARPA-H) is less than the FY2003 peak level (-2.7%). When excluding funding for ARPA-H, the
    FY2024 level is 5.2% less than the FY2003 level. The FY2025 proposed inflation-adjusted NIH
    and ARPA-H program level is 2.6% less than the FY2003 program level and 3.3% less than the
    FY2003 level when excluding ARPA-H funding.

    10), was 1.0% less than the previous fiscal year; the FY2013 total, provided in the Consolidated and Further
    Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-6), was reduced by the March 2013 sequestration and a transfer of
    funding under the authority of the HHS Secretary ($1.553 billion and $173 million, respectively), resulting in a budget
    that was 5.0% lower than the prior year.
    27 The index is developed for NIH by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce. It reflects the
    increase in prices of the resources needed to conduct biomedical research, including personnel services, supplies, and
    equipment. It indicates how much the NIH budget must change to maintain purchasing power. See “NIH Price
    Indexes,” at https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/gbiPriceIndexes.html.
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    National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding: FY1996-FY2025

    Figure 1. NIH Funding, FY1996-FY2025 Request
    Program Level Funding in Current and Projected Constant (FY2023) Dollars.

    Source: Sources used for the FY2025 request and for FY2024 and FY2023five-year doubling period) and then has not reached the same inflation-adjusted program level as in FY2003 even with the year-to-year increases provided (in nominal terms) from FY2016 through FY2024. Although inflation adjusted funding levels in recent years have come close to those peak levels. The FY2026 request would provide an inflation-adjusted (based on BRDPI projections) NIH program funding level that is estimated to be 47.3% below the FY2003 peak level.

    Figure 2. NIH Funding, FY1996-FY2026 Request

    Program Level Funding in Current and Preliminary Constant (FY2024) Dollars.

    Sources: Sources used for the FY2024, FY2025, and proposed FY2026
    program levels are in program levels are in Table 2. The
    FY2022The FY2023 (and earlier) program levels are from NIH Budget Office, Appropriations History by Institute/Center (and earlier) program levels are from NIH Budget Office, Appropriations History by Institute/Center
    (1938 to Present), at http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/approp_hist.html. Inflation adjustment reflects the (1938 to Present), at http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/approp_hist.html. Inflation adjustment reflects the
    Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI), updated Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI), updated January 2024June 2025, at , at
    https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/gbiPriceIndexes.htmlhttps://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/gbiPriceIndexes.html.
    Notes: . Notes: Funding levels do not include ARPA-H funding. By convention, program level totals include amounts By convention, program level totals include amounts "transferred intransferred in" pursuant to PHS tap but do not pursuant to PHS tap but do not
    include any amounts include any amounts "transferred outtransferred out" under this same authority. Program level includes all budget authority, under this same authority. Program level includes all budget authority,
    including appropriations for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (FY2002-FY2011) that were subject including appropriations for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (FY2002-FY2011) that were subject
    to transfer-out. As of FY2012, NIH no longer receives appropriations for the National Institute of Allergy and
    Infectious Diseases (NIAID) identifying resources for the Global Fund; this responsibility was transferred to
    another federal agency.to transfer-out In general, amounts provided to NIH designated for emergency requirements are In general, amounts provided to NIH designated for emergency requirements are
    excluded from these totals (e.g., the FY2020 and FY2021 amounts do not include the amounts provided in the excluded from these totals (e.g., the FY2020 and FY2021 amounts do not include the amounts provided in the
    coronavirus supplemental appropriations acts). PB = Presidentcoronavirus supplemental appropriations acts). PB = President's budget.s budget.
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    Table 3. NIH Funding, FY1996-FY2025FY2026 Request
    Program Level Funding in Current and Program Level Funding in Current and Preliminary Constant (Constant (FY2023FY2024) Dollars (Billions)) Dollars (Billions)
    Program Level

    Fiscal Year

    Program Level Current $

    % Change

    Program Level Preliminary Constant FY2024 $

    % Relative to FY2003a

    1996

    $11.928

    5.6%

    $27.717

    1997

    $12.741

    6.8%

    $28.806

    1998

    $13.675

    7.3%

    $29.904

    1999

    $15.629

    14.3%

    $33.128

    2000

    $17.841

    14.1%

    $36.457

    2001

    $20.459

    14.7%

    $40.462

    2002

    $23.321

    14.0%

    $44.645

    2003

    $27.167

    16.5%

    $50.240

    2004

    $28.037

    3.2%

    $49.987

    -0.5%

    2005

    $28.594

    2.0%

    $49.072

    -2.3%

    2006

    $28.560

    -0.1%

    $46.845

    -6.8%

    2007

    $29.179

    2.2%

    $46.109

    -8.2%

    2008

    $29.607

    1.5%

    $44.695

    -11.0%

    2009

    $30.545

    3.2%

    $44.799

    -10.8%

    2010

    $31.238

    2.3%

    $44.463

    -11.5%

    2011

    $30.916

    -1.0%

    $42.781

    -14.8%

    2012

    $30.861

    -0.2%

    $42.165

    -16.1%

    2013

    $29.316

    -5.0%

    $39.317

    -21.7%

    2014

    $30.143

    2.8%

    $39.576

    -21.2%

    2015

    $30.311

    0.6%

    $39.004

    -22.4%

    2016

    $32.311

    6.6%

    $40.693

    -19.0%

    2017

    $34.301

    6.2%

    $42.104

    -16.2%

    2018

    $37.311

    8.8%

    $44.684

    -11.1%

    2019

    $39.313

    5.4%

    $46.106

    -8.2%

    2020

    $41.690

    6.0%

    $48.055

    -4.4%

    2021

    $42.941

    3.0%

    $48.290

    -3.9%

    2022

    $45.183

    5.2%

    $48.582

    -3.3%

    2023

    $47.683

    5.5%

    $49.376

    -1.7%

    2024

    $47.351

    -0.7%

    $47.351

    -5.7%

    2025

    $46.995

    -3.8%

    $45.800

    -8.8%

    2026

    Proposed

    $27.915

    -40.6%

    $26.486

    -47.3%

    Sources: Sources used for FY2024, FY2025, and FY2026 proposed
    Program Level

    Projected Constant
    % Relative to
    Fiscal Year
    Current $
    % Change
    FY2023 $
    FY2003a
    1996
    11.928
    5.6%
    26.780

    1997
    12.741
    6.8%
    27.832

    1998
    13.675
    7.3%
    28.893

    1999
    15.629
    14.3%
    32.009

    2000
    17.841
    14.1%
    35.225

    2001
    20.459
    14.7%
    39.094

    2002
    23.321
    14.0%
    43.136

    2003
    27.167
    16.5%
    48.542

    2004
    28.037
    3.2%
    48.297
    -0.5%
    2005
    28.594
    2.0%
    47.413
    -2.3%
    2006
    28.560
    -0.1%
    45.262
    -6.8%
    2007
    29.179
    2.2%
    44.551
    -8.2%
    2008
    29.607
    1.5%
    43.184
    -11.0%
    2009
    30.545
    3.2%
    43.285
    -10.8%
    2010
    31.238
    2.3%
    42.960
    -11.5%
    2011
    30.916
    -1.0%
    41.335
    -14.8%
    2012
    30.861
    -0.2%
    40.739
    -16.1%
    2013
    29.316
    -5.0%
    37.989
    -21.7%
    2014
    30.143
    2.8%
    38.238
    -21.2%
    2015
    30.311
    0.6%
    37.685
    -22.4%
    2016
    32.311
    6.6%
    39.317
    -19.0%
    2017
    34.301
    6.2%
    40.681
    -16.2%
    2018
    37.311
    8.8%
    43.173
    -11.1%
    2019
    39.313
    5.4%
    44.548
    -8.2%
    2020
    41.690
    6.0%
    46.431
    -4.4%
    2021
    42.941
    3.0%
    46.659
    -3.9%
    2022
    46.183
    7.5%
    47.979
    -1.2%
    2023
    49.178
    6.5%
    49.178
    1.3%
    2024
    48.811
    -0.7%
    47.253
    -2.7%
    2025
    Proposed
    50.174
    2.8%
    47.282
    -2.6%
    Sources: Sources used for FY2025 proposed, FY2024, and FY2023 program levels are in program levels are in Table 2. The FY2022
    The FY2023 (and earlier) program levels are from NIH Budget Office, Appropriations History by Institute/Center (1938 to (and earlier) program levels are from NIH Budget Office, Appropriations History by Institute/Center (1938 to
    Present), at http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/approp_hist.html. Inflation adjustment reflects the Biomedical Present), at http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/approp_hist.html. Inflation adjustment reflects the Biomedical
    Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI), updated Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI), updated January 2024June 2025, at https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/, at https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/
    gbiPriceIndexes.htmlgbiPriceIndexes.html.
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    Notes: . Notes: All program levels do not include funding for ARPA-H. By convention, budget tables, such By convention, budget tables, such asas Table 3, includeinclude amounts amounts "transferred intransferred in" pursuant to PHS tap pursuant to PHS tap
    but do not include any amounts but do not include any amounts "transferred outtransferred out" under this same authority. Program level includes all budget under this same authority. Program level includes all budget
    authority, including appropriations for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (FY2002-FY2011) that authority, including appropriations for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (FY2002-FY2011) that
    were subject to transfer-out. As of FY2012, NIH no longer receives appropriations for the National Institute of
    Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) identifying resources for the Global Fund; this responsibility was
    transferred to another federal agencywere subject to transfer-out. In general, amounts provided to NIH for emergency requirements are . In general, amounts provided to NIH for emergency requirements are
    excluded from these totals (e.g., the FY2020 and FY2021 amounts do not include the amounts provided in the excluded from these totals (e.g., the FY2020 and FY2021 amounts do not include the amounts provided in the
    coronavirus supplemental appropriations actscoronavirus supplemental appropriations acts). FY2022-FY2025 amounts include funding for the Advanced
    Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). PB denotes “President’s budget.”
    a. ). PB denotes "President's budget." a. FY2003 was the year that NIH received the most program level funding FY2003 was the year that NIH received the most program level funding (prior to FY2023) in 2023in FY2024 constant dollars. Appendix A. NIH Funding Details

    Program-Specific Funding

    For the most part, Congress has not specified
    constant
    dol ars.
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    Appendix A. NIH Funding Details
    Program-Specific Funding
    For the most part, Congress does not specify NIH funding for particular diseases or research NIH funding for particular diseases or research
    topics through appropriations and instead topics through appropriations and instead allowshas allowed the ICs to award funding within their mission the ICs to award funding within their mission
    areas based on their own strategic planning and priority-setting processes. areas based on their own strategic planning and priority-setting processes. Research funding is
    generally awardedNIH has generally awarded research funding on a flexible and competitive basis through various funding allocation on a flexible and competitive basis through various funding allocation
    mechanisms intended to balance scientific and health priorities.mechanisms intended to balance scientific and health priorities.28
    34 However, in some cases, Congress and the President However, in some cases, Congress and the President specifyhave specified funding levels for programs or funding levels for programs or
    research areas within NIH accounts throughout the budget and appropriations process. Congress research areas within NIH accounts throughout the budget and appropriations process. Congress
    useshas used appropriations report language to designate funding for specified purposes appropriations report language to designate funding for specified purposes, whereas the
    President proposes amounts in the annual budget request.29. This practice has expanded since This practice has expanded since
    FY2015.FY2015.30
    35 In FY2024, Congress used appropriations report language to specify a certain amount of IC In FY2024, Congress used appropriations report language to specify a certain amount of IC
    funding for designated purposes, as summarized infunding for designated purposes, as summarized in Table A-1. Most of these amounts Most of these amounts are
    were specified in the explanatory statement accompanying enacted appropriations.specified in the explanatory statement accompanying enacted appropriations.3136 In a few cases, In a few cases,
    amounts specified in the Senate appropriations report (S.Rept. 118-84amounts specified in the Senate appropriations report (S.Rept. 118-84) were) are incorporated by incorporated by
    reference.reference.3237 Sometimes the language Sometimes the language specifiesspecified a certain amount for a certain purpose; in other a certain amount for a certain purpose; in other
    cases, the language cases, the language providesprovided increased or additional funding. As mentioned, the FY2025 CR provided NIH, for the most part, with full-year FY2025 funding at the same levels and subject to the same conditions as funding provided in FY2024 appropriations (P.L. 118-47). The FY2025 CR was not accompanied by a similar explanatory statement or congressional report as in FY2024 appropriations. As of the cover date of this report, the post-enactment allocations for NIH programs, projects, and activities are not consistently available through public executive branch sources. CRS has included Table A-1 showing amounts in the FY2024 explanatory statement for reference purposes. Table A-1. Specified NIH Funding Levels in FY2024 Explanatory Statement

    Institute/Center

    Program/Activity

    Amount

    National Cancer Institute (NCI)

    Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI)

    No less than $50 million,
    increased or additional funding. The appropriations reports also
    include many general statements recommending the agency to fund certain programs or areas of
    research, as well as statements expressing the opinion or concerns of Congress regarding NIH.
    These broad statements are not summarized here.

    28 CRS Report R41705, The National Institutes of Health (NIH): Background and Congressional Issues.
    29 For a general overview, see CRS Report R44124, Appropriations Report Language: Overview of Development and
    Components
    , and CRS Report R47019, The Executive Budget Process: An Overview.
    30 For example, in December 2014, the explanatory statement on the FY2015 omnibus stipulated, “In keeping with
    longstanding practice, the agreement does not recommend a specific amount of NIH funding for this purpose
    [Alzheimer’s disease] or for any other individual disease. Doing so would establish a dangerous precedent that could
    politicize the NIH peer review system. Nevertheless, in recognition that Alzheimer’s disease poses a serious threat to
    the Nation’s long-term health and economic stability, the agreement expects that a significant portion of the
    recommended increase for NIA should be directed to research on Alzheimer’s. The exact amount should be determined
    by scientific opportunity of additional research on this disease and the quality of grant applications that are submitted
    for Alzheimer’s relative to those submitted for other diseases.” See Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 160, no.
    151, Book II (December 11, 2014), p. H9832.
    31 Congressional Record, vol. 168, no. 198, Book II, March 22, 2024, pp. H1890-H1891.
    32 Senate report amounts cited where not superseded by the explanatory statement per direction in the explanatory
    statement, “Unless otherwise noted, the language set forth in Senate Report 118-84 carries the same weight as language
    included in this explanatory statement and should be complied with unless specifically addressed to the contrary in this
    explanatory statement.” (Congressional Record, vol. 170, no. 51, Book II, March 22, 2024, p. H1886). CRS is unable
    to determine precisely which directives in S.Rept. 118-84 are to be complied with.
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    Table A-1. Specified NIH Funding Levels in FY2024 Explanatory Statement
    Institute/Center
    Program/Activity
    Amount
    National Cancer Institute
    Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI)
    No less than $50 mil ion,
    (NCI)
    including no less than $750,000 including no less than $750,000
    to continue to support to continue to support
    enhancement of the CCDI enhancement of the CCDI
    Molecular Characterization Molecular Characterization
    InitiativeInitiative

    Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment
    No less than $30 mil ion
    Access, and Research (STAR) Act
    (including $2 mil ionAccess, and Research (STAR) Act No less than $30 million (including $2 million for cancer for cancer
    registry case capture efforts for registry case capture efforts for
    childhood and adolescent childhood and adolescent
    cancers)cancers)

    NCI PaylinesNCI Paylines

    An increase of $120 million

    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

    Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID–19 Disparities (CEAL) Initiative

    $30 million

    Valvular Heart Disease Research

    $20 million

    National Institute of
    An increase of $120 mil ion
    National Heart, Lung, and
    Community Engagement Alliance Against
    $30 mil ion
    Blood Institute (NHLBI)
    COVID–19 Disparities (CEAL) Initiative
    Valvular Heart Disease Research
    $20 mil ion
    National Institute of
    Diabetes researcha
    Additional $10 mil ion
    Diabetes and Digestive Diabetes and Digestive
    and Kidney Diseases and Kidney Diseases
    (NIDDK)
    National Institute of
    Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease
    An increase in $10 mil ion for
    Neurological Disorders
    Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
    NINDS out of the $100 mil ion
    and Stroke (NINDS)
    increase for AD/ADRD across
    NIH

    (NIDDK) Diabetes researcha

    Additional $10 million

    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

    Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)

    An increase in $10 million for NINDS out of the $100 million increase for AD/ADRD across NIH

    Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL)
    Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL)
    An increase of $5 mil ion
    Initiative (opioids, stimulants, and pain Initiative (opioids, stimulants, and pain
    management)management)

    An increase of $5 million

    Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN)Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN)
    $18 mil ion
    National Institute of

    $18 million

    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

    Consortium of Food Allergy Research (CoFAR)Consortium of Food Allergy Research (CoFAR)
    $12.1 mil ion
    Allergy and Infectious
    Diseases (NIAID)

    $12.1 million

    Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease ResearchLyme and Tick-Borne Disease Research
    No less than $100 No less than $100 mil ion

    million Regional biocontainment laboratories (RBL)Regional biocontainment laboratories (RBL)
    $52 mil ion $52 million, of which not less , of which not less
    than $3 than $3 mil ionmillion shall be shall be
    provided to each of the 12 provided to each of the 12
    RBLs to support the RBLs to support the
    maintenance of a capable maintenance of a capable
    research workforce, facilities, research workforce, facilities,
    and equipmentand equipment

    Research on antimicrobial Research on antimicrobial resistancea
    No less than $565 mil ion

    resistancea

    No less than $565 million

    Universal flu vaccineUniversal flu vaccine
    No less than $270 No less than $270 mil ionmillion, the , the
    same as FY2023same as FY2023
    National Institute of

    National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

    Institutional Development Award (IDeA) ProgramInstitutional Development Award (IDeA) Program $430.956 $430.956 mil ionmillion, an increase of $5 million

    Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

    Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative

    No less than $53.4 million, an increase of $10 million

    National Institute on Aging (NIA)

    Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

    An increase in $90 million for NIA out of the $100 million an
    , an increase of
    General Medical Sciences
    $5 mil ion
    (NIGMS)
    Eunice Kennedy Shriver
    Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy
    No less than $53.4 mil ion, an
    National Institute of Child Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE)
    increase of $10 mil ion
    Initiative
    Congressional Research Service

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    link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding: FY1996-FY2025

    Institute/Center
    Program/Activity
    Amount
    Health and Human
    Development (NICHD)
    National Institute on
    Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
    An increase in $90 mil ion for
    Aging (NIA)
    NIA out of the $100 mil ion an
    increase for AD/ADRD across increase for AD/ADRD across
    NIH

    NIH Palliative Care ResearchPalliative Care Research
    $12.5 mil ion

    $12.5 million

    National Institute on DrugNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) HEAL Initiative (opioids, stimulants, and pain HEAL Initiative (opioids, stimulants, and pain
    No less than $365.295 mil ion,
    Abuse (NIDA)
    management)a
    an increase of $10 mil ion
    National Institute of
    Mental Health Research
    An increase of $75 mil ion
    Mental Health (NIMH)
    National Institute of
    Health Disparities Researcha
    $10 mil ion
    Nursing Research (NINR)
    National Institute on
    Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes
    $6 mil ion
    Minority Health and
    Health Disparities

    Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Health Research
    $4 mil ion
    Officer

    Research Endowment Programa
    $12 mil ion
    National Center for
    Pain and pain management researcha
    $5 mil ion
    Complementary and
    Integrative Health
    (NCCIH)
    National Center for
    Clinical and Translational Science Awards
    $629.56 mil ion
    Advancing Translational
    (CTSAs)a
    Sciences (NCATS)

    Cures Acceleration Network (CAN)
    $75 mil ion

    Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)a
    $75 mil ionmanagement)a

    No less than $365.295 million, an increase of $10 million

    National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

    Mental Health Research

    An increase of $75 million

    National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

    Health Disparities Researcha

    $10 million

    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

    Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes

    $6 million

    Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Health Research Office

    $4 million

    Research Endowment Programa

    $12 million

    National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

    Pain and pain management researcha

    $5 million

    National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

    Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs)a

    $629.56 million

    Cures Acceleration Network (CAN)

    $75 million

    Office of the Director (OD)

    Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)a $75 million
    for implementation for implementation
    of the Accelerating Access to of the Accelerating Access to
    Critical Therapies for ALS ActCritical Therapies for ALS Act

    Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/MLArtificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)a
    $135 mil ion

    )a

    $135 million

    Biomedical Research Facilities- grants to renovate Biomedical Research Facilities- grants to renovate
    $80 mil ion
    and construct nonfederal research facilities

    Brain Research through Advancing Innovative
    $680 mil ionb
    Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiativea

    Cybersecurity
    $265 mil ion

    Developmental Delaysa
    $10 mil ion

    Environmental Influences on Child Health
    $180 mil ion
    Outcomes (ECHO)a

    Firearm injury and mortality prevention research
    $12.5 mil ionand construct nonfederal research facilities

    $80 million

    Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiativea $680 millionb

    Cybersecurity

    $265 million

    Developmental Delaysa

    $10 million

    Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO)a

    $180 million

    Firearm injury and mortality prevention research

    $12.5 million
    , the same level as , the same level as
    FY2023FY2023

    Foreign influence: HHS Office of Extramural Foreign influence: HHS Office of Extramural
    $2.5 mil ion
    Research allocationa

    Research allocationa

    $2.5 million

    Funding Replication Experiments and/or Fraud Detectiona

    $10 million

    Funding Replication Experiments and/or Fraud
    $10 mil ion
    Detectiona
    Congressional Research Service

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    link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 17 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding: FY1996-FY2025

    Institute/Center
    Program/Activity
    Amount

    Investigation of Co-Occurring Conditions Across
    No less than $90 mil ion
    Investigation of Co-Occurring Conditions Across the Lifespan to Understand Down Syndrome the Lifespan to Understand Down Syndrome
    (INCLUDE)

    National Primate Research Centersa
    $30 mil ion

    (INCLUDE)

    No less than $90 million

    National Primate Research Centersa

    $30 million

    NIH Support for Pediatric Research- National NIH Support for Pediatric Research- National
    $1.5 mil ion
    Academies assessment of NIHAcademies assessment of NIH's current pediatric s current pediatric
    research portfolioa

    research portfolioa

    $1.5 million

    Office of the Chief Officer for Scientific Office of the Chief Officer for Scientific
    $22.415 mil ion
    Workforce Diversity (COSWD)a

    Workforce Diversity (COSWD)a

    $22.415 million

    Office of Nutrition Research (ONR)Office of Nutrition Research (ONR)
    The same as FY2023 ($1.313 The same as FY2023 ($1.313
    mil ion)c

    million)c Office of Research on WomenOffice of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)s Health (ORWH)
    $76.48 $76.48 mil ionmillion, including $7 , including $7
    mil ionmillion, an increase of $2 , an increase of $2
    mil ionmillion, for the Building , for the Building
    Interdisciplinary Research Interdisciplinary Research
    Careers in WomenCareers in Women's Health s Health
    (BIRCWH) program(BIRCWH) program

    Research on Enhanced Potential Pandemic Research on Enhanced Potential Pandemic
    $1 mil ion
    Pathogens- implementation office for technical
    assistancea

    Pathogens- implementation office for technical assistancea

    $1 million

    Term Limits—Implementing NIH policy to limit Term Limits—Implementing NIH policy to limit
    $500,000
    IC Directors to serve two IC Directors to serve two termsa
    termsa

    $500,000

    Source: Congressional Record, vol. 168, no. 198, Book II, March 22, 2024, pp. H1890-H1891. Senate report , vol. 168, no. 198, Book II, March 22, 2024, pp. H1890-H1891. Senate report
    amounts cited where not superseded by the explanatory statement per direction in the explanatory statement, amounts cited where not superseded by the explanatory statement per direction in the explanatory statement,
    "Unless otherwise noted, the language set forth in S.Rept. 118-84 carries the same weight as language included in Unless otherwise noted, the language set forth in S.Rept. 118-84 carries the same weight as language included in
    this explanatory statement and should be complied with unless specifically addressed to the contrary in this this explanatory statement and should be complied with unless specifically addressed to the contrary in this
    explanatory statementexplanatory statement" (p. H1886). CRS is unable to determine precisely which directives in S.Rept. 118-84 are (p. H1886). CRS is unable to determine precisely which directives in S.Rept. 118-84 are
    to be complied with.to be complied with.
    Notes: Table does not include amounts already shown inTable does not include amounts already shown in Table A-1. Dol ar Table 2. Dollar amounts are at the level of detail amounts are at the level of detail
    used in the appropriations report text.used in the appropriations report text.
    a. a. From S.Rept. 118-84From S.Rept. 118-84.
    b. . b. Amount includes $172 Amount includes $172 mil ionmillion from the Innovation Account for the BRAIN Initiative as authorized by the from the Innovation Account for the BRAIN Initiative as authorized by the
    Cures Act (split between NINDS and NIMH in FY2024 appropriations).Cures Act (split between NINDS and NIMH in FY2024 appropriations).
    c. c. See pages OD-18 and OD-26 in the FY2025 Congressional Justification for the NIH Office of the Director, See pages OD-18 and OD-26 in the FY2025 Congressional Justification for the NIH Office of the Director,
    at https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY25/insti_center_subs/27-OD_FY25_CJ_Chapter.pdfat https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY25/insti_center_subs/27-OD_FY25_CJ_Chapter.pdf. Appendix B. Acronyms and Abbreviations Acronym/Abbreviation

    Organization/Term

    ARPA-H

    Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health

    ASHF

    Assistant Secretary for a Healthy Future

    BRAIN

    Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies

    BRDPI

    Biomedical Research and Development Price Index

    CR

    Continuing resolution

    F&A

    Facilities and administrative

    GAO

    Government Accountability Office

    HHS

    Department of Health and Human Services

    ICs

    Institutes and Centers

    INT

    Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

    LHHS

    Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

    NIEHS

    National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

    NIGMS

    National Institute of General Medical Sciences

    NIH

    National Institutes of Health

    OD

    NIH Office of the Director

    PHS

    Public Health Service

    PHSA

    Public Health Service Act

    PMI

    Precision Medicine Initiative

    Footnotes

    1.

    The Public Health Service (PHS) also includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the Food and Drug Administration, the Indian Health Service, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and the Office of Global Affairs.

    2.

    CRS Report R47568, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H): Overview and Selected Issues.

    3.

    For further information on the National Institutes of Health (NIH), see CRS Report R41705, The National Institutes of Health (NIH): Background and Congressional Issues.

    4.

    NIH, "Budget," last reviewed September 2025, at https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/organization/budget. Calculations reflect discretionary budget authority and do not include funding for PHS Evaluation Set-Aside, mandatory funding, 21st Century Cures Act, ARPA-H, nor from COVID-19 supplemental appropriations and the HHS Nonrecurring Expenses Fund account.

    5.

    NIH, "Budget," last reviewed September 2025, at https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/organization/budget. Calculations reflect discretionary budget authority and do not include funding for PHS Evaluation Set-Aside, mandatory funding, 21st Century Cures Act, ARPA-H, nor from COVID-19 supplemental appropriations and the HHS nonrecurring expenses fund account.

    6.

    NIH, "Budget," last reviewed September 2025, at https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/organization/budget. Calculations reflect discretionary budget authority and do not include funding for PHS Evaluation Set-Aside, mandatory funding, 21st Century Cures Act, ARPA-H, nor from COVID-19 supplemental appropriations and the HHS nonrecurring expenses fund account.

    7.

    NIH program levels in this report reflect total funding for all Institutes and Centers (ICs), the Office of the Director (OD), the PHS Evaluation Set-Aside ("PHS Evaluation Tap"), the Superfund Research Program, mandatory type I diabetes research (provided in Public Health Service Act [PHSA] Section 330B), and the nonrecurring expenses fund (NEF) when applicable. The program level does not include funding that NIH receives from gifts or other collections.

    8.

    This program was first authorized in the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 (P.L. 99-499) which added a new Section 311 to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 for an HHS research and training program related to hazardous substances (42 U.S.C. §9660), and also included a separate provision for worker training and education grants related to hazardous waste removal (Section 126(g) of P.L. 99-499; 42 U.S.C. §9660a). The FY2026 President's budget proposes to relocate the National Institute of Environmental Health Science out of NIH.

    9.

    Authorized by Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), 42 U.S.C. §238j. The authorizing law allows the HHS Secretary to redistribute a portion of eligible PHS agency appropriations across HHS for program evaluation purposes. The PHSA limits the set-aside to not less than 0.2% and not more than 1.0% of eligible program appropriations. In recent years, annual appropriations laws have established requirements in addition to those in statute. These include a higher maximum percentage for the set-aside and directing specific amounts of tap funding to selected HHS programs. Since FY2010, and including in FY2024 and FY2025, this higher maximum set-aside level has been 2.5% of eligible appropriations, see section 204 of P.L. 118-47, which was incorporated by reference in the FY2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution (P.L. 119-4).

    10.

    Annual appropriations laws have exempted certain appropriations from transfer that would be otherwise eligible. For example, see Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) appropriation for mental health, "none of the funds provided for section 1911 of the PHS Act shall be subject to section 241 of such Act" in P.L. 118-47.

    11.

    42 U.S.C. §254c-2. The FY2026 continuing resolution (P.L. 119-37) also temporarily extended the special program for type 1 diabetes until January 30, 2026.

    12.

    See section on 21st Century Cures Act in CRS Report R41705, The National Institutes of Health (NIH): Background and Congressional Issues.

    13.

    CRS Report R45778, Exceptions to the Budget Control Act's Discretionary Spending Limits.

    14.

    The FY2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution (P.L. 119-4) included an anomaly in Section 1905 that changed the FY2025 enacted Innovation Account appropriation from the FY2024 funding level to the funding level authorized in the 21st Century Cures Act for FY2025, $127 million.

    15.

    For a summary of FY2025 Continuing Resolutions that extended LHHS Appropriations see CRS Report R48598, Overview of FY2025 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations.

    16.

    Accounting for the effects of Cures Act transfers, NIH accounts that see effective decreases in FY2025 include: the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute of Mental Health.

    17.

    See Congressional Record, vol. 168, no. 198, Book II, March 22, 2024, pp. H1890-H1891. In addition, directives in the Senate report (S.Rept. 118-84) applied where not superseded by the explanatory statement per direction in the explanatory statement, "Unless otherwise noted, the language set forth in S.Rept. 118-84 carries the same weight as language included in this explanatory statement and should be compiled with unless specifically addressed to the contrary in this explanatory statement" (p. H1886).

    18.

    U.S. Government Accountability Office, Department of Health and Human Services—National Institutes of Health--Application of Impoundment Control Act to Availability of Funds for Grants, B-337203, August 5, 2025, https://www.gao.gov/assets/890/880607.pdf.

    19. CRS analysis of NIH account data available in SF 133 Report on Budget Execution and Budgetary Resources for FY2024 and FY2025. CRS compared end-of-year unobligated balances in NIH one-year discretionary accounts in FY2025 compared to FY2024, and calculated the percentage of total funding available in those accounts in FY2025 and FY2024 respectively. CRS found that, with some variation by account, 99.96 to 100% of funds available in the accounts had been obligated by the end of the fiscal year. 20.

    HHS, Budget in Brief: FY2026, pp. 21-22, https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2026-budget-in-brief.pdf.

    21.

    CRS Report R47568, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H): Overview and Selected Issues

    22.

    PHSA Section 499A(a); 42 U.S.C. §290c.

    23.

    HHS, Budget in Brief FY2026, p. 49, https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2026-budget-in-brief.pdf.

    24.

    NIH, Overview of FY2025 President's Budget, p. 23, https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY26/br/NIH%20FY%202026%20CJ%20Overview.pdf.

    25.

    NIH, Overview of FY2025 President's Budget, p. 23, https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY26/br/NIH%20FY%202026%20CJ%20Overview.pdf.

    26.

    Mass. v. NIH, Nos. 25-10388, 25-10340, 25-10346, 2025 WL 1063760 (D. Mass. Apr. 4, 2025) (vacating indirect cost notice and permanently enjoining NIH from implementing or enforcing the notice). NIH appealed the district court's decision to the U.S Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (First Circuit). Notice of Appeal, Mass. v. NIH, Nos. 25-10388, 25-10340, 25-10346, ECF No. 133 (D. Mass. Apr. 8, 2025). At the time of this writing, the case is pending before the First Circuit, which heard oral argument on November 5, 2025. See Docket Entry, Mass. v. NIH, No. 25-1343 (1st Cir. Nov. 5, 2025).

    27.

    Pierre Azoulay, Daniel P. Gross, and Bhaven N. Sampat, "Indirect Cost Recovery in U.S. Innovation Policy: History, Evidence, and Avenues for Reform," National Bureau of Economic Research Working Papers, June 2025, https://www.nber.org/papers/w33627.

    28.

    NIH, Overview of FY2025 President's Budget, p. 4, https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY26/br/NIH%20FY%202026%20CJ%20Overview.pdf.

    29.

    NIH, Overview of FY2025 President's Budget, p. 5, https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY26/br/NIH%20FY%202026%20CJ%20Overview.pdf.

    30.

    NIH, Overview of FY2025 President's Budget, p. 5, https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY26/br/NIH%20FY%202026%20CJ%20Overview.pdf.

    31. Amounts shown in Table 3 include appropriations for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (FY2002-FY2011) that were subject to transfer-out. As of FY2012, NIH no longer receives appropriations for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) identifying resources for the Global Fund; this responsibility was transferred to another federal agency. For further details on the amounts transferred out by fiscal year, see the "Supplemental Appropriation Data Table" for "History of Congressional Appropriations, Fiscal Years 2000-2012" at http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/approp_hist.html. 32.

    For instance, the FY2006 total was 0.1% lower than the previous year, the first time that NIH appropriations had decreased since FY1970; the FY2011 total, provided in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (P.L. 112-10), was 1.0% less than the previous fiscal year; the FY2013 total, provided in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-6), was reduced by the March 2013 sequestration and a transfer of funding under the authority of the HHS Secretary ($1.553 billion and $173 million, respectively), resulting in a budget that was 5.0% lower than the prior year.

    33.

    The index is developed for NIH by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce. It reflects the increase in prices of the resources needed to conduct biomedical research, including personnel services, supplies, and equipment. It indicates how much the NIH budget must change to maintain purchasing power. Historically, BRDPI has had a higher growth rate than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) price index. See "NIH Price Indexes," at https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/gbiPriceIndexes.html.

    34.

    CRS Report R41705, The National Institutes of Health (NIH): Background and Congressional Issues.

    35.

    For example, in December 2014, the explanatory statement on the FY2015 omnibus stipulated, "In keeping with longstanding practice, the agreement does not recommend a specific amount of NIH funding for this purpose [Alzheimer's disease] or for any other individual disease. Doing so would establish a dangerous precedent that could politicize the NIH peer review system. Nevertheless, in recognition that Alzheimer's disease poses a serious threat to the Nation's long-term health and economic stability, the agreement expects that a significant portion of the recommended increase for NIA should be directed to research on Alzheimer's. The exact amount should be determined by scientific opportunity of additional research on this disease and the quality of grant applications that are submitted for Alzheimer's relative to those submitted for other diseases." See Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 160, no. 151, Book II (December 11, 2014), p. H9832.

    36.

    Congressional Record, vol. 168, no. 198, Book II, March 22, 2024, pp. H1890-H1891.

    37.

    Senate report amounts cited where not superseded by the explanatory statement per direction in the explanatory statement, "Unless otherwise noted, the language set forth in Senate Report 118-84 carries the same weight as language included in this explanatory statement and should be complied with unless specifically addressed to the contrary in this explanatory statement." (Congressional Record, vol. 170, no. 51, Book II, March 22, 2024, p. H1886). CRS is unable to determine precisely which directives in S.Rept. 118-84 are to be complied with.

    .
    Table A-2. Specified NIH Funding Levels in the FY2025 HHS Budget in Brief
    Institute/Center
    Program/Activity
    Amount
    National Cancer Institute
    Cancer Moonshot
    $716 mil ion total in
    (NCI)
    discretionary funds, an
    increase of $500 mil ion
    over FY2023 (in addition
    to proposed mandatory
    funds discussed in this
    report)
    Office of the Director
    Office of Women’s Health Research
    $154 mil ion, an increase of
    (OD)
    $76 mil ion
    Firearm research
    $25 mil ion, $12 mil ion
    more than FY2023
    Congressional Research Service

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    link to page 20 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding: FY1996-FY2025

    Institute/Center
    Program/Activity
    Amount
    Several ICs
    All of Us Precision Medicine Initiative and Brain
    $1.2 bil ion for both
    Research Through Advancing Innovative
    initiativesa (same funding
    Neurotechnologies (BRAIN)
    level as FY2023)
    Several ICs
    Opioids, stimulant, and pain research
    $1.8 bil ion (same as
    FY2023 enacted), including
    $636 mil ion for the
    Helping to End Addiction
    Long-term (HEAL)
    Initiative
    National Institute on
    Health disparities and inequities research
    $95 mil ion
    Minority Health and
    Health Disparities
    (NIMHD) and other ICs
    National Institute of
    Developing a universal influenza vaccine
    $270 mil ion
    Allergy and Infectious
    Ending the HIV epidemic in the United States
    $26 mil ion (same as
    Diseases (NIAID) and
    FY2023 enacted)
    other ICs
    Eunice Kennedy Shriver
    IMPROVE Initiative
    $43 mil ion, increase of
    National Institute of Child
    $13.4 mil ion relative to
    Health and Human
    FY2023
    Development (NICHD)
    Impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy and lactation
    $3 mil ion
    National Institute of
    Innovating mental health research and treatment,
    An increase of $200
    Mental Health (NIMH)
    including to support better diagnostics, improved
    mil ion; $10 mil ion to
    treatments, and enhanced precision of care for mental
    support NIH-led effort to
    health.
    promote effective
    approaches to prevent or
    reduce risk for behavioral
    health disorders
    National Library of
    Create and maintain col ection, storage, and cutting-
    $30 mil ion
    Medicine
    edge analytics for clinical care data for NIH’s artificial
    intelligence initiative
    Buildings and Facilities
    Address NIH’s backlog of maintenance and repair on
    $350 mil ion
    its intramural campus
    Source: HHS, Budget in Brief: FY2025, pp. 54-56, https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2025-budget-in-
    brief.pdf.
    Notes: Dol ar amounts are at the level of detail used in the budget request and are presented in the order they
    appear in the budget in brief, except where grouped by IC. Table does not include proposed mandatory
    spending.
    a. Total amount includes $127 mil ion from the Innovation Account for the BRAIN Initiative and PMI as
    authorized by the Cures Act.


    Congressional Research Service

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    National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding: FY1996-FY2025

    Appendix B. Acronyms and Abbreviations
    Acronym/
    Abbreviation
    Organization/Term
    ARPA-H
    Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
    BRAIN
    Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies
    DARPA
    Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
    DOD
    Department of Defense
    FIC
    Fogarty International Center
    FY
    Fiscal Year
    IC
    Institutes and Centers
    NCATS
    National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
    NCCIH
    National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
    NCI
    National Cancer Institute
    NEF
    Nonrecurring Expenses Fund
    NEI
    National Eye Institute
    NHGRI
    National Human Genome Research Institute
    NHLBI
    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
    NIA
    National Institute on Aging
    NIAAA
    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
    NIAID
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
    NIAMS
    National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
    NIBIB
    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
    NICHD
    National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
    NIDA
    National Institute on Drug Abuse
    NIDCD
    National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
    NIDCR
    National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
    NIDDK
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
    NIEHS
    National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
    NIGMS
    National Institute of General Medical Sciences
    NIMH
    National Institute of Mental Health
    NIMHD
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
    NINDS
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
    NINR
    National Institute of Nursing Research
    NLM
    National Library of Medicine
    OD
    NIH Office of the Director
    PHS
    Public Health Service
    PMI
    Precision Medicine Initiative
    Congressional Research Service

    18

    National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding: FY1996-FY2025




    Author Information

    Kavya Sekar

    Analyst in Health Policy


    Acknowledgments
    CRS Research Assistants John Gorman and Joe Angert provided assistance for this report.

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    Congressional Research Service
    R43341 · VERSION 50 · UPDATED
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