Committee Approves FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

September 9, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 35 to 28.

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) said, "As you know, this subcommittee oversees the largest non-defense expenditure in the federal government. That responsibility gives us one of the greatest opportunities to reexamine spending priorities—ensuring taxpayer dollars are directed to critical needs in healthcare, workforce development, and education, while cutting waste and eliminating programs driven by political agendas rather than the public interest. One of the clearest examples is in healthcare. For too long, Washington has assumed that simply pumping more money into the system would solve our challenges. Yet the status quo has not produced better health outcomes for Americans—it has only added trillions to our national debt. If we are truly going to make America healthy again, we must focus on reforming the system itself, not just expanding its price tag. In recent years, we’ve worked diligently to rein in government spending. What is especially encouraging now is having a partner in the White House who shares this commitment. The Trump Administration, through its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is already working with agencies to realign spending to where it belongs. That effort strengthens our momentum toward greater fiscal responsibility. I am grateful to Chairman Cole and my colleagues for their collaboration, and I look forward to building on this progress. This bill represents a strong foundation for transparency, accountability, and smarter investments—helping restore the trust of the American people as we allocate their hard-earned tax dollars responsibly."

Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, "Change doesn’t come from keeping the status quo—it comes from making bold, disciplined choices. To make America healthier, we are breaking from failed approaches of the past and charting a course that delivers real results. The FY26 LHHS bill demonstrates the will of the American people who mandated new priorities and accountability in government. We are directing taxpayer dollars where they matter most: into lifesaving biomedical research and resilient medical supply chains, into classrooms that prepare the next generation for success, and into rural hospitals and public health programs that families rely on every day. These choices reflect a clear promise of putting American communities, health, and workforce first. This measure protects our children, our seniors, and those with disabilities, while advancing President Trump’s agenda to end progressive overreach and stop the weaponization of Washington against constitutional and parental rights. Every dollar in this bill strengthens our communities, empowers our students, and supports our workforce. Thanks to Chairman Aderholt’s leadership, this legislation moves our nation toward a healthier, stronger, and more competitive future."

Subcommittee Chairman Aderholt's opening remarks are available here.

Chairman Cole's opening remarks are available here.

Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $184.5 billion, which is $13.7 billion (7%) below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. This bill supports President Trump’s efforts to safeguard taxpayer dollars, eliminate out-of-touch progressive policies, and end the weaponization of government by eliminating or reducing more than 100 programs.

Key Takeaways

Champions America First principles by:

Providing $100 million for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, which will allow the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to invest in prevention and innovation programs for rural communities, telehealth resources for chronic care, and nutrition services.
Renaming AmeriCorps as the America First Corps to reflect the agency’s core mission of funding organizations that place Americans at the center of service initiatives.
Prioritizing America250 activities and projects through the National Days of Service program, and libraries across the United States.
Renaming Workforce Pell Grants as Trump Grants to reflect the President’s commitment to growing the American workforce and expanding opportunities for American workers.

Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by:

Eliminating the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, consistent with President Trump's Executive Order 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.”
Prioritizing substance abuse treatment, prevention, and long-term recovery, including the use of opioid overdose reversal medications, while prohibiting taxpayer funds from going to harm reduction activities that encourage continued use of illicit controlled substances; consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order 14321, “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets.”
Maintaining the longstanding Hyde Amendment and ensuring no federal funding can be used for abortion on demand.
Supporting the Trump Administration’s efforts to safeguard taxpayer dollars through responsible management of Federal student loans.
Prohibiting funding for schools that support antisemitic conduct or discriminate against religious student groups.
Maintaining the longstanding Dickey Amendment, which ensures that federal funds cannot be used to advocate or promote 2nd amendment limitations.
Prohibiting the implementation of the Biden administration’s independent contractor rule, liberating 64 million American women, seniors, and others balancing work with family responsibilities to participate in the freelance economy.

Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by:

Providing $48 billion in funding to support biomedical research, a necessary counter to China’s growing threat in basic science research.
Strengthening America’s biodefense and countering global health security threats by providing more than $3 billion for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.
Prohibiting the purchase of supplies from China for the Strategic National Stockpile, which supports American manufacturers by expanding the domestic industrial base for these items.
Prioritizing the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children under custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement through improved sponsor vetting, interagency data sharing, welfare checks, and reporting requirements.
Eliminating funding for Transitional and Medical Services and the Refugee Support Services programs, which incentivized unchecked migration through cash handouts, medical assistance, and public welfare services.
Securing the nation’s food security by rolling back the Biden Administration’s burdensome one-size-fits-all regulations leading to the closure of small family farms.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by:

Streamlining duplicative behavioral health programs focused on criminal and juvenile justice programs and homelessness prevention.
Providing increased funding for youth and young adult suicide prevention, mental health treatment, and substance abuse prevention and treatment services.
Strengthening Tribal communities by supporting mental health and substance abuse treatment, elder care, and child and family services, while promoting accountability and self-sufficiency.
Defunding the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD), which the Biden Administration improperly used to carry out activities related to adult alcohol consumption.
Eliminating the duplicative Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Providing a closeout budget for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, consistent with Administration policy to reduce the federal footprint.
Focusing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on communicable diseases rather than social engineering.
- Reducing funding by 19% and streamlining 35 duplicative and controversial programs while increasing funding to combat emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases.

A summary of the bill is available here.

During the markup, Committee Republicans also stood with the America First agenda and rejected Democrat amendments that would have:

Blocked immunization schedules from being informed by new data, ignoring evolving science and evidence.
Obstructed efforts to conduct program oversight in federally funded scientific research.
Imposed affirmative action mandates in the federal hiring process.
Blocked efforts to improve inaccurate labor and employment data calculations.
Banned the designation of Workforce Pell Grants in recognition of the President.
Expanded spending without offsets.
Hampered efforts to streamline government and reduce bureaucracy.
Allowed taxpayer dollars to be used for abortion and removed conscience protections.
Sought to reinforce Obamacare policies.
Penalized states for asserting their right to direct vaccine policy.
Impeded rural health innovation to Make America Healthy Again.
Bankrolled injection sites that fuel addiction and endanger communities.
Subsidized liberal media without the oversight of the annual appropriations process.
Limited where ICE can conduct enforcement actions.
Encroached on Second Amendment rights.
Redirected American taxpayer funding to support foreign labor unions.

Adopted Amendments

Aderholt #1 (Manager’s Amendment) – Makes technical, bipartisan changes to the bill and report.
- The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Aderholt #2 (Republican En Bloc) – Makes technical changes, reinforces skilled trade workforce, upholds support to those suffering from eating disorders and mental health conditions, reinforces domestic manufacturing capacity for essential medications, and encourages school safety.
- The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Frankel #3 – Preserves Social Security field offices and phone services.
- The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Frankel #5 – Prevents CMS from running a prior authorization pilot.
- The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Cuellar #2 – Protects funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions and GEAR UP to support student success.
- The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Underwood/Zinke #1 – Supports Jobs Corps training programs.
- The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Lee #1 – Amends Public Health Service Act for continuing medical education grant programs.
- The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Gluesenkamp Perez #1 – Blocks funding for mandatory active shooter drills unless parents are given an opt-out for students under 16.
- The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.

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