Honoring Capitol Hill Champions
On Tuesday, the House passed a five-bill spending package by a 217–214 vote, and President Trump signed the bill into law, ending the partial government shutdown. The package funds roughly 95% of the federal government, including the NIH, CDC, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), ARPA-H, and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). This action wraps up all Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations except for the Department of Homeland Security.
This budget chart tracks agency-level funding, and this chart provides NIH institute and center-level funding data. See this chart for CDMRP funding levels, which are included in the Department of Defense appropriations section of the package.
Saying Thanks: In the press statement we released when the joint funding levels for the NIH and other research and public health agencies under the final “Labor-HHS” legislation were first announced, we thanked appropriations leadership for their dedicated efforts. We are following up with thank you notes to these leaders and their respective staff members for the commitment and countless hours they devoted to achieving this outcome. If you are with a Research!America alliance member organization and we can assist you in similar efforts, please contact Erin Darbouze.
Important Note: As we also asserted in our press statement, the NIH funding increase and protective language in this appropriations package mark incremental progress; these outcomes should not be confused with “all is well.” Important avenues of research are still being curtailed, and science agencies are still being underfunded. But with your advocacy, our congressional champions went to bat for research in FY26, and with your continued advocacy, our nation will get back on track.
Speaking of Champions…
Whitehead Award Winners Announced: Yesterday, we announced the winners of the Edwin C. Whitehead Award: U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) and U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE). This award recognizes exemplary leaders, particularly those in public office, who have demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing medical and health research as a national priority and who galvanize others in support of science.
Additionally, we announced the winners of the Isadore Rosenfeld Award for Impact on Public Opinion and the Meeting the Moment for Public Health Award: Amy Maxmen, Ph.D., National Public Health Reporter, KFF Health News, and The McClintock Letters initiative, respectively.
You can read more about each of these esteemed honorees in our press release here. Sens. Britt and Coons, along with Amy Maxmen and The McClintock Letters, will be recognized at the 2026 Advocacy Awards on Tuesday, March 10, at the National Academy of Sciences. Take a moment to review the full list of top medical and health leaders we will honor next month here. And save your spot – register today!
Hearing from the NIH Director: On Tuesday, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The focus of the hearing was NIH modernization, but a range of topics were addressed including: vaccine policy, clinical trial disruptions, and multi-year funding. Watch the recording here.
ARPA-H Layoffs: The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) laid off at least 15 employees this week, according to former agency officials, as reported by POLITICO Pro (subscription required). The departures appear to include former acting deputy director Jason Roos, as well as the elimination of the Office of Commercialization. If you are with an alliance member organization, mark your calendar for Feb. 19, noon to 1 p.m. ET and watch your inbox for an invitation to a special meeting focused on ARPA-H.
A Future Shaped By Science: The National Science Board (NSB) recently released an update on its work in 2025, a year of change. This update is also forward-looking; the NSB outlines its 2026 plans to accelerate the long-term strategic vision for science and technology in the U.S. This line from the update is particularly inspiring as we all pursue our advocacy: “The future will not be shaped by science alone, but it cannot be shaped without it.” Read the full NSB update here.
RFI on Public Health Preparedness: Reps. Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) are requesting information on legislation to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), which guides federal preparedness and response to pandemics and other health emergencies. You can respond to this Request for Information here. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 17.
Upcoming Alliance Discussion: Join us on Thursday, Feb. 12, from noon to 12:30 p.m. ET for an off-the-record, alliance member-only discussion with Matt Bowman, Senior Professional Staff Member for the U.S. House Committee on Small Business. We’ve asked Matt to discuss House efforts to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. If you are affiliated with a Research!America alliance member, watch your email for an invitation or email Jacqueline Lagoy for the Zoom registration link.
Support Our Work: We receive frequent feedback and insights about this weekly letter. Your feedback matters to us and your financial support does too! Your support enables us to provide this resource, host alliance member-only meetings, and engage in intensive advocacy with you. Consider a donation to help Research!America continue and expand the resources we provide and advocacy we do. And know that we appreciate your interest, engagement, and partnership. Donate now.