Committee Releases FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 bill for the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, September 2nd, at 5:00 p.m. The markup will be live-streamed and can be found on the Committee’s website.

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt said, "As you may know, this subcommittee is responsible for the largest non-defense expenditure in the federal government. Therefore, it presents one of the greatest opportunities for us to reevaluate our spending priorities to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly, in order to provide for critical services in healthcare, workforce development, and education – all while eliminating waste and cutting out politically motivated programs being pushed by non-elected bureaucrats. Even last year, we were dedicated to getting government spending under control. But now, it’s particularly encouraging to have a partner in the White House that shares this commitment. The Trump Administration, through its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has already begun working with agencies to realign spending where it should be, helping us build on that shared momentum for fiscal responsibility. I thank Chairman Cole and my colleagues for their collaboration on these efforts, and I look forward to the continued progress this Committee can make in restoring trust with the American people as we responsibly allocate taxpayer dollars. While we still have a ways to go, I believe this bill lays a strong foundation for transparency and fiscal accountability."

Chairman Tom Cole said, "We are investing taxpayer dollars where they matter most - into programs that deliver real results for the American people. This bill prioritizes cutting-edge biomedical research, strengthens our medical supply chains and biodefense infrastructure, and ensures support for rural hospitals and public health programs. With each measure, we reaffirm that Making America Healthy Again is not just a slogan, but a promise. These investments protect the well-being of the most precious and vulnerable among us: America’s children, seniors, and those with disabilities. President Trump’s agenda to end progressive overreach and the weaponization of government against constitutional and parental rights is advanced in this legislation. Every dollar is directed toward initiatives that truly strengthen our communities, students, and workforce. Chairman Aderholt’s leadership once again puts our country on a stronger, steadier path forward."

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.
Bill text is available here.