The AOA joined hundreds of national organizations in a letter calling on Congress to reject the proposed $18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the House Appropriations Committee’s FY26 budget proposal. Instead, the AOA strongly supported restoring NIH funding to $51.3 billion, the level necessary to sustain groundbreaking biomedical research and ensure continued U.S. leadership in medical innovation.
NIH-funded research plays a pivotal role in advancing cures, improving health outcomes, and supporting physician-scientists, including many in the osteopathic profession. These investments not only drive medical progress but also fuel economic growth and job creation in research institutions across the country. The AOA urges Congress to prioritize sustained, robust funding for the NIH to accelerate life-saving discoveries that benefit all Americans.