SENATORS MCCORMICK AND FETTERMAN URGE NIH TO RELEASE FY2026 APPROPRIATED FUNDS

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) sent a letter to the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) urging NIH to take immediate action to ensure the timely obligation of all congressionally appropriated FY 2026 grant funding.

"Failure to disburse appropriated funds not only forfeits critical investments but also delays scientific breakthroughs and undermines America's leadership in biomedical research at a time of growing competition from China and other adversaries. In Pennsylvania, world-class research institutions depend on a functioning NIH grant pipeline to sustain their workforce, advance lifesaving discoveries, and drive long-term economic growth," wrote Senators McCormick and Fetterman.

Pennsylvania ranks as the fourth largest recipient of NIH funding in the nation. In 2025,

NIH investment generated $5.31 billion in annual economic activity and supported more than 21,700 research jobs.NIH-driven commercialization efforts have also helped create 3,710 businesses and 97,000 jobs in the biopharmaceutical industry.

NIH has awarded fewer than 1,900 new and competitive research grants between October 2025 and late March 2026, less than half the normal pace. The consequences of this slowdown are already being felt by nearly every major disease area, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and prenatal care. Congress funded NIH at approximately $47 billion for FY2026.

Read the full text of the letter below and here.

Dear Director Bhattacharya,

We write to express our concern about the pace of grant awards at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to urge you to take immediate action to ensure the timely obligation of all congressionally appropriated FY2026 funds. .

An analysis of NIH RePORTER data, NIH has awarded only approximately 1,900 new and competitive grants between October 2025 and late March 2026, which accounts for less than half the number typically awarded by that point in the fiscal year. The National Cancer Institute alone has earmarked roughly $72 million for new and competitive grants through late March, compared to nearly $250 million at the same point in FY21-24. The slowdown covers most major disease area, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and prenatal care. Congress appropriated more than $47 billion to NIH for FY2026, and that investment must be put to work.

The consequences of this slowdown are already being felt in Pennsylvania. In 2025, NIH-funded research generated $5.3B in economic activity in the Commonwealth and supported more than 21,700 jobs. NIH-driven commercialization efforts have also helped create 3,710 businesses and 97,000 jobs in the biopharmaceutical industry. Failure to disburse appropriated funds not only forfeits critical investments but also delays scientific breakthroughs and undermines America's leadership in biomedical research at a time of growing competition from China and other adversaries. In Pennsylvania, world-class research institutions depend on a functioning NIH grant pipeline to sustain their workforce, advance lifesaving discoveries, and drive long-term economic growth.

We respectfully request that NIH move expeditiously to obligate all FY2026 appropriated funds in accordance with congressional intent, provide our offices additional context regarding the challenges NIH is facing contributing to the current pace of awards, and set forth actionable steps the agency is taking to address delays.

We hope to continue working together to ensure NIH fulfills its mission of making America healthy and keeping American science first in the world. We appreciate your attention to this matter and hope to receive your response no later than June 21, 2026.