Impact on SGO Members: Congress finalizes funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 spending bills four months into the fiscal year. Overall, the final funding levels support increases for the research and education programs SGO supports.
TL;DR: Congress finalized FY 2026 health and defense funding, delivering increased investments in gynecologic cancer research, prevention, and women’s health. Key priorities advocated for by SGO—including higher funding for NIH, NCI, CDC cancer programs, and Department of Defense cancer research—were strengthened, while critical research protections were implemented. These outcomes reflect sustained SGO member advocacy with important implications for gynecologic cancer research and care.
What Happened: FY 2026 Health and Defense Funding Finalized
Congress has finalized FY 2026 funding for health and defense programs, approving a six‑bill spending package four months into the fiscal year. The House passed the legislation on February 3, and it was signed into law by President Donald Trump, funding the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Defense, and most other federal agencies for the remainder of FY 2026.
Final passage ended a partial government shutdown after Democrats objected to finalizing funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Congress ultimately reached agreement and enacted full‑year funding levels for SGO’s priority programs.
Why This Is Important for SGO Members
The final FY 2026 funding package delivers increased investments in biomedical research, prevention programs, and women’s health, along with policy language that protects the research infrastructure relied upon by SGO members. These outcomes reflect priorities long supported by SGO advocacy and provide greater stability for researchers, clinicians, and public health programs focused on gynecologic cancers.
What This Means: Key Funding and Policy Outcomes
Strengthened Investments in Health and Research
The FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill includes several funding increases and protections important to the gynecologic cancer community:
- $48.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including funding from the 21st Century Cures Act, the Public Health Service Evaluation Act, and ARPA‑H. This total includes $7.35 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a $128 million increase, and $106.48 million for the Office of Research on Women’s Health, a $30.48 million increase.
- Bill language prohibits changes to indirect cost reimbursement, requires NIH to notify Congress before terminating grants, and maintains the current organizational structure of NIH, ensuring that no institutes or centers are eliminated.
- While the legislation limits NIH’s use of multi‑year funding mechanisms beyond its use in FY 2025, this language is less favorable than the Senate proposal that would have tied such funding to FY 2024 rates.
- $9.02 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including $1.43 billion for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion programs.
- Targeted increases include:
- $15.5 million for the CDC’s Ovarian Cancer Program (+$500,000)
- $12 million for Johanna’s Law (+$500,000)
- $236.5 million for Breast and Cervical Cancer programs (+$1 million)
Advancing Cervical Cancer Screening Through HPV Self‑Sampling
The final spending package incorporates House and Senate report language addressing cervical cancer screening through HPV self‑sampling. The committees note that self‑collection has the potential to reach individuals who are never or under‑screened—who account for approximately half of cervical cancer diagnoses—and urge CMS to expedite its review process and ensure appropriate coverage upon FDA approval.
Expanded Support for Cancer Research in the Defense Bill
The FY 2026 Defense bill includes meaningful investments in cancer research programs relevant to gynecologic cancers:
- $1.27 billion for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP)—a significant increase over FY 2025 levels, though below FY 2024 funding
- $50 million for the Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP), a $5 million increase over FY 2024 funding levels
- Inclusion of endometrial cancer as a condition eligible for funding under the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP)
What’s Next: Continuing SGO Advocacy
These FY 2026 funding outcomes reflect the sustained impact of SGO member advocacy in support of robust investments in gynecologic cancer research, prevention, and care. As Congress begins work on FY 2027 appropriations, SGO will continue to engage with policymakers to protect research funding, advance evidence‑based screening policies, and expand opportunities for gynecologic cancer research.
For more details on specific funding levels, visit SGO’s FY 2026 Appropriations Tracker. We appreciate our members’ continued advocacy and look forward to working together to advance SGO’s mission in the year ahead.