House Panel Advances $110.8 Billion HHS Bill, Cutting Funding 4%
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 10
House Panel Advances $110.8 Billion HHS Bill, Cutting Funding 4%
2 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 10
Summary
A 34-28 party-line vote late Tuesday sent the fiscal 2027 HHS spending bill out of the House Appropriations Committee, setting funding at $110.8 billion, down from $116.6 billion in 2026.
Republicans said the measure preserves programs tied to the nation’s biggest needs while trimming efforts they view as having limited long-term impact and sustainability.
Democrats argued the cuts would deepen affordability pressures, pointing to the elimination of $286 million for Title X, a $2 billion reduction for the ACA marketplace and a $1 billion CDC cut largely affecting HIV work.
One bipartisan amendment flagged NIH grant delays and noted available grant funding in fiscal 2026 is nearly 50% below fiscal 2024 levels; the panel also barred HHS from using the bill’s funds for an AI-based Medicare prior-authorization model.
The committee rejected amendments to restore the ACA marketplace cut, block a draft rule giving political appointees more control over grants, and shield NIH researchers from politically motivated firings.