Senate Releases Spending Bills, Republican Senators Push Back Against NIH Funding Delays

Before departing for August Recess, the Senate advanced several bills through the Appropriations Committee, including the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) bill, and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) bill (previous COSSA coverage). Both the Senate CJS and LHHS bills included relatively flat funding levels, rejecting the draconian cuts proposed by the Trump Administration earlier this year (see COSSA’s analysis). 

Notably, on July 31, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a mark-up for the LHHS bill in which several amendments were offered, including Senator Dick Durbin’s (D-IL) call for the Trump Administration to restore all grants that had been terminated. The amendment, which failed on a 15-14 party line vote, drew the attention of various Republican members, including the Chair of the LHHS Subcommittee, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), who argued that she would support a similar amendment that applied only to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), stating, “Every Administration has the prerogative to implement new goals and priorities.” The Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), agreed with Sen. Capito, opting for a “more surgical approach” to the issue. However, when Sen. Durbin offered to draft an NIH-specific amendment, Sen. Capito withdrew her offer of support.

Despite this contentious back-and-forth, there has been Congressional support of scientific research in recent weeks. On July 23, the Science and Technology Action Committee (STAC) hosted a reception on Capitol Hill on the importance of federal investment in scientific research. The event featured positive remarks from Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee; Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN), member of the House Science Committee; and Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC), member of the House Science Committee.

Further, on July 25, 14 Republican Senators, led by Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), sent a letter to Russell Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), demanding the disbursement of fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriated funds for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Republican Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tim Scott (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Todd Young (R-IN) cosigned the letter. The funds were later released by OMB after receiving the letter, which can be viewed here.

Read on for details of the Senate’s FY 2026 CJS and LHHS appropriations bills as approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. COSSA will continue to report on the progress of FY 2026 funding legislation in the weeks and months ahead. You can follow our coverage here.