House Minibus Advances with Mixed Outcomes for EHDI

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a fiscal year (FY) 2026 minibus appropriations package that includes the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) bill, along with Housing and Urban Development, Defense, and Homeland Security funding.

For Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs, the package delivers mixed results. The bill provides $18.18 million for the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) EHDI program, a $1 million increase that supports state newborn hearing screening and follow-up systems and reflects continued congressional recognition of the importance of early identification and intervention for infants with hearing loss, as well as sustained advocacy by the Academy and partner organizations.

At the same time, the bill reduces Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) EHDI funding by approximately $4 million, largely due to limited staffing capacity, with a single staff member overseeing EHDI data coordination across all 50 states. These reductions raise concerns about national surveillance, data quality, and technical assistance for state programs.

The appropriations process remains fluid. The Senate has yet to finalize its approach, and ongoing disagreements could complicate efforts to keep the government funded beyond Friday, when the current continuing resolution expires at midnight.

The Academy will continue monitoring negotiations closely as the House and Senate work to avert a lapse in federal funding.