HHS 2026 Budget in Brief Outlines Planned Cuts to NIH, CDC Funding

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its 2026 Budget in Brief last week, outlining HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vision for the agency in the year ahead.

The proposed budget reflects the Trump administration’s planned consolidations and funding reductions, including a 25% overall cut to HHS and steep reductions for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Under the proposal, NIH funding would be reduced by nearly $18 billion, and CDC would see a $4 billion cut. The budget also advances the administration’s proposed 15% cap on indirect research costs, which would limit reimbursements for facilities and administrative expenses tied to NIH-funded research.

However, the administration needs Congressional approval to implement the proposal, which has faced opposition from the health care, science and research communities.

In response to the proposed cuts, AABB launched an action alert last month urging policymakers to support strong, sustained NIH funding. NIH-supported research has driven critical advancements in transfusion medicine and biotherapies — including the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and improvements in blood safety — and contributes significantly to public health and the U.S. economy.

AABB encourages members to join the campaign and voice their support for robust NIH funding in the FY26 budget.