As the science stakeholder community awaits the President’s Budget Request for fiscal year 2027 (FY27), FABBS coalitions have already established their funding requests for federal health and science agencies. FABBS has been advocating for these funding levels with Hill offices — especially with members who sit on key appropriations subcommittees — by sharing community letters, submitting programmatic funding requests, and communicating with legislative staff.
[FABBS Federal Science Funding Dashboard] [Funding Letters Signed by FABBS]
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
National Science Foundation (NSF) – As co-chair of the Coalition for National Science Funding, FABBS supports its recommendation, $9.9 billion, which is equivalent to NSF’s FY23 funding level, including supplemental funding. FABBS’ advocacy focuses on strong support of NSF’s Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE), which funds foundational research vital for national security, ethical technology use, and advancements in cognitive science. SBE houses the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). FABBS also advocates for the Directorate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (EDU), which plays a critical role in workforce development and training across all scientific fields. NSF investment is essential for U.S. leadership in innovation, economic growth, national security, and public health, as well as in cultivating the future STEM workforce. (See CNSF letter)
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – As a member of the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, FABBS supports their recommendation, $51.3 billion. This represents an 8.7 percent increase over the enacted funding level in FY26. Researchers in the U.S. conduct vital studies on innovative strategies to promote Americans’ health and well-being. They tackle a wide range of health challenges, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, mental health disorders, and chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Institutes, centers, and offices within NIH support this critical research, including (but not limited to) the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. Sustained support for NIH is essential for the U.S. to maintain its position as a global leader in scientific research and medical innovation. (See Ad Hoc letter)
In addition to Ad Hoc and the Coalition for Health Funding (CHF), FABBS is also a member of several Friends groups that advocate for individual institutes and centers (IC), including the Friends of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; FABBS is a co-chair) and the Friends of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD; FABBS sits on the executive committee). Some of these groups have standalone letters recommending a specific funding level for a particular IC.
BRAIN Initiative – As a member of the American Brain Coalition’s advocacy committee, FABBS supports their recommendation, $468 million. The BRAIN Initiative is revolutionizing our understanding of the brain and, as a result, we are making tremendous progress in therapies and treatments for brain diseases, conditions, and injuries. This work is incredibly costly, and robust, sustained funding for the BRAIN Initiative is critical to continuing advances in cognitive and neuroscience research. (See American Brain Coalition letter [DRAFT])
Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) – FABBS supports the broader scientific community’s recommendation, $1.70 billion (separate from NIH funding). This represents a $200 million increase over the enacted FY26 level. ARPA-H is uniquely positioned to fund high-risk, high-reward projects that do not receive private sector attention and complement NIH’s traditional research portfolio. This agency has the potential to foster breakthrough solutions for critical health challenges, including neurological and psychiatric disorders. ARPA-H funding will enable novel research approaches that are crucial for accelerating advances in treatments and cures. In addition to its direct impact on patient health, ARPA-H’s investments will have a far-reaching economic effect, driving innovation and job creation in the biomedical sector. Robust funding of this agency will ensure that the U.S. remains competitive in an increasingly globalized research landscape. (See community letter)
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) – As a member of the Friends of NCHS, FABBS supports their recommendation, $220 million. Since 2010, NCHS has lost 24 percent of its purchasing power. Providing NCHS with a modest funding increase in FY27 will not only maintain the agency’s mission as the nation’s principal health statistics agency, but also enable NCHS to devise new technologies and methodologies to address declining survey response rates, improve data quality, granularity, timeliness, and access; expand the National Health Interview Survey and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; and enhance vital statistics, particularly mortality data. (See Friends of NCHS letter [DRAFT])
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) – FABBS supports the Friends of AHRQ recommendation, $500 million. AHRQ funds health services research that focuses on the delivery of effective and efficient medical care, including prevention of dangerous and deadly medical errors. AHRQ is the bridge between cures and care and ensures that Americans get the best health care at the best value. (See Friends of AHRQ letter)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – FABBS supports the CDC Coalition’s recommendation, $11.581 billion. The CDC is a critical agency in the fight to promote health and prevent disease among all Americans. Sustained funding is needed for CDC’s most effective prevention programs to reach all states and communities, a goal stalled by years of underfunding. Additionally, CDC programs not only ensure a strong public health infrastructure but they are also crucial to reducing health care costs. (See CDC Coalition letter)
Public Health Research into Firearm Morbidity and Mortality Prevention – As a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Research Roundtable, FABBS supports their recommendation: $35 million for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), $25 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and $1 million for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). After decades without dedicated funding, Congress reached a bipartisan agreement in 2019 to allocate funds for this research, and sustained funding is needed to continue improving gun safety and reducing firearm-related injuries and deaths. (See GVP Letter [DRAFT])
Institute of Education Sciences (IES), U.S. Department of Education – As a member of the Friends of IES, FABBS supports their recommendation, $900 million. IES plays a vital role in supporting rigorous education research that informs policies and practices to improve educational outcomes. Education research contributes to long-term economic benefits by reducing dropout rates, improving literacy and numeracy skills, and enhancing workforce readiness. FABBS is deeply concerned about staffing at the agency and the status of unobligated FY25 funds. FABBS echoes concerns from the Friends of IES that FY25 research and training grant competitions for the National Center for Education Research (NCER) and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) were closed without new award opportunities after submitted proposals went unreviewed for over a year. We strongly urge Congress to conduct oversight to reestablish the statutorily required peer review process and to include bill language, as in the FY26 law, ensuring that funds are apportioned by individual line items. (See Friends of IES letter [DRAFT])
