Appropriations Update

As Congress returns from the August recess, its primary goal is to pass the appropriations bills that fund the federal government by September 30, 2025. Failure to do so would result in a government shutdown. The only alternative is passing a continuing resolution (CR) to extend the deadline for passing a full-year funding package.

Currently, the government is operating under a CR passed in March 2025. CRs maintain the most recently enacted appropriations levels; in this case, the government continues to function at fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding levels—the last year in which Congress passed appropriations bills that were signed into law by then-President Biden.

One of the most contentious measures is the Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations Bill for FY 2026, which has cleared both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. While both versions differ significantly, their implications for hearing health and public health are notable.

Senate Appropriations Committee Version

• Reported out of committee on July 31, 2025, by a vote of 26–3.
• Provides $116.6 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a slight increase of about $446 million over FY 2025.
• NIH receives a modest increase, protecting a critical source of funding for hearing research, auditory neuroscience, cochlear implant development, and basic science. Level or near-level funding supports ongoing grants and training programs.
• Maintains modest or level funding for CDC programs, including surveillance, vaccine-preventable disease control, and public health infrastructure—important for sustaining EHDI data collection, follow-up services, and intervention grants without major disruption.

House Appropriations Committee Version

• Approved by the full LHHS Committee on September 9, 2025, by a vote of 35–28.
• Provides $108 billion for HHS—about 6 percent below FY 2025.
  • NIH: nearly level funding, with a slight (~1 percent) reduction from FY 2025.
  • CDC: faces a ~$1.7 billion (≈19 percent) cut.
  • HRSA: receives $7.1 billion, about 11 percent below FY 2025.
• EHDI and Surveillance: Funding cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) threaten Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)-related programs. Without offsetting support, data collection, follow-up, and staff capacity could be reduced. CRs provide stability but do not keep pace with inflation or growing needs, diminishing program effectiveness.
• Broader reductions to CDC, HRSA, and workforce programs may weaken training pipelines, continuing education, and initiatives such as the National Health Service Corps—potentially limiting services in rural and low-income areas.

Continuing Resolution Outlook

The CR was released on Tuesday and expected to be voted on this week. The 91-page measure that would avert a government shutdown on October 1 by keeping federal agencies funded through November 21. It also allocates $30 million for lawmaker security and $58 million in security assistance for the Supreme Court and the executive branch—as requested by the White House. The Republicans can only lose two votes to pass this bill without any Democratic support.

The Academy will continue to advocate for increased funding for CDC, HRSA, and the national Institutes of Health (NIH)—with special emphasis on EHDI and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)—and will monitor this legislation closely. Updates will be provided as developments occur.