NIH, NIA Facing Budget Cuts: Speak Out by Contacting Congress Now

An announcement from the chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee indicates that both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its National Institute on Aging (NIA) are likely to face significant budget cuts in fiscal year 2026.

GSA is calling on its members to contact your elected representatives to express opposition to these cuts. Specifically, funding for federal agencies within the jurisdiction of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, including NIH, would be cut by an estimated $1.3 billion.

GSA has prepared a phone script that you can use to advocate for adequate funding, including NIH at $51.3 billion and NIA at $4.75 billion. These are the funding levels that GSA and other leading organizations have determined is required to advance NIH and NIA leadership in both intramural and extramural research.

We encourage you to make the call and share these tools with colleagues, family, friends, and neighbors. Dial 202-224-3121 and ask for your representative's office. Encourage your elected officials to continue to support the essential lifesaving research that keeps the U.S. competitive and contributes to more meaningful lives for all Americans.

In addition to the phone script, GSA’s website has a wealth of resources to help you be a successful advocate. Please join with your GSA member colleagues in making the call.