Status of FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations: In Brief

This report provides an overview of FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations, including relevant congressional actions and a top-line comparison of discretionary funding enacted in FY2026 versus relevant congressional proposals, and prior-year funding for FY2024 and FY2025. It also provides background on the scope of the bill and context for congressional budgetary decisionmaking. Full-year FY2026 appropriations for LHHS were enacted on February 3, 2026, when the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (FY2026 LHHS omnibus; H.R. 7148; P.L. 119-75) was signed into law by the President. The FY2026 LHHS omnibus provided $194.9 billion in funding, which is 1.6% (-$3.2 billion) less than the comparable FY2025 funding level, and 0.2% (+$470 million) more than comparable FY2024 funding level. Prior to its enactment, the final version of the measure was approved by the Senate on January 30 (71-29), and the House on February 3 (217-214). At the start of the fiscal year (October 1, 2025), a funding lapse commenced, resulting in a government shutdown that affected many LHHS programs and activities; that lapse ended on November 12, 2025, with the enactment of temporary LHHS funding in a continuing resolution (CR) (Division A of H.R. 5371; P.L. 119-37). The CR funded LHHS programs and activities through January 30, 2026. Discretionary programs generally were funded at the same rate, and under the same conditions, as in FY2025, whereas appropriated entitlements were funded at their current law levels. The CR also included one provision that was specific to LHHS accounts or related activities (§155). When annual appropriations were not yet enacted at the time the CR expired, a second LHHS funding lapse commenced, through February 3. With regard to earlier committee action on full-year regular LHHS appropriations, on September 9, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee voted to report its version of the FY2026 LHHS bill (35-28). The measure was subsequently reported on September 11, as H.R. 5304 (H.Rept. 119-271). On July 31, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to report its version of the FY2026 LHHS bill (26-3). The measure was subsequently reported that same day as S. 2587 (S.Rept. 119-55). No further action on either the House or Senate committee proposals occurred.