Report on FY 2026 U.S. Appropriations for Global Health and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Legislative Context

On July 31, 2025, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill. This legislation is a critical instrument for allocating U.S. funding toward global health initiatives that directly support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The approved legislative package includes:

• The FY 2026 Labor-HHS appropriations bill text.
• An accompanying explanatory report.
• Adopted amendments.

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The bill allocates significant funding to U.S. agencies whose work is fundamental to achieving global health targets outlined in SDG 3. While the total funding amount remains partially undetermined, the specified allocations provide crucial support for global health security and research.

1. Combating Epidemics (SDG Target 3.3): The bill provides for continued funding for research activities at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) targeting global HIV/AIDS and malaria. Although the exact amounts are determined at the agency level, this commitment is essential for the global effort to end these epidemics. Funding for Parasitic Diseases and Malaria at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also directly addresses this target.
2. Strengthening Global Health Security (SDG Target 3.d): The bill allocates $693 million to global health programs at the CDC. This funding is vital for strengthening the capacity of all countries for early warning, risk reduction, and management of global health risks, a core component of SDG 3. This includes support for Global Disease Detection & Emergency Response.
3. Supporting Health Research and Development: The allocation of $95 million to the Fogarty International Center (FIC) at the NIH directly supports global health research. This investment fosters scientific advancements and capacity-building necessary to address a wide range of global health challenges, contributing broadly to the objectives of SDG 3.

Commitment to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The Labor-HHS appropriations bill serves as a key mechanism for implementing SDG 17 by financing U.S. participation in global health partnerships. By funding the international activities of the CDC and NIH, the bill reinforces U.S. commitment to international cooperation and enhances support for capacity-building in developing countries.

• The sustained funding levels for the CDC and FIC demonstrate a consistent partnership with the global community in addressing shared health challenges.
• These financial commitments enable U.S. agencies to provide technical expertise, surveillance, and research support to partner nations, strengthening global health systems.

FY 2026 Funding Analysis for Global Health Programs

The bill maintains funding for key global health and research entities at FY 2025 levels. The following is a breakdown of specified allocations and their relevance to the SDGs.

Designated Funding Levels

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Global Health:
  • Funding: $693 million
  • Status: Equal to the FY 2025 enacted amount.
  • SDG Impact: Directly supports SDG 3 by funding programs for disease detection, emergency response, and control of parasitic diseases and malaria.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Fogarty International Center (FIC):
  • Funding: $95 million
  • Status: Equal to the FY 2025 enacted amount.
  • SDG Impact: Advances SDG 3 and SDG 17 by funding collaborative global health research and building scientific capacity worldwide.

Undetermined Funding and Proposed Changes

The final total for U.S. global health funding through this bill is not yet known, as appropriations for specific research areas like global HIV/AIDS and malaria at NIH are determined internally. Furthermore, the FY 2026 Request includes a proposal to eliminate the CDC’s Global Health Center and its bilateral programs, transferring key functions to other departments. This potential restructuring could impact the implementation framework for programs contributing to the SDGs.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article’s central theme is the U.S. government’s funding for global health programs. It explicitly mentions allocations for disease control, research, and emergency response, which are core components of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being globally.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article discusses a financial commitment from a developed country (the United States) to support global health initiatives. This act of providing international funding (a form of Official Development Assistance) is a key aspect of strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.3: End the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases.

   The article directly refers to funding for “global HIV/AIDS,” “malaria research,” and “Parasitic Diseases and Malaria.” These allocations are aimed at combating specific communicable diseases mentioned in this target.

2. Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines.

   The text highlights funding for “global health research activities at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)” and the “Fogarty International Center (FIC).” This funding directly supports the research and development efforts necessary to combat diseases that affect global populations, particularly in developing countries.

3. Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.

   The article mentions funding for the CDC’s “Global Disease Detection & Emergency Response.” This program is explicitly designed to enhance global capacity to detect and respond to health emergencies, aligning perfectly with the goal of strengthening early warning and risk management systems.

4. Target 17.2: Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments.

   The entire article is about the U.S. appropriations bill, which allocates financial resources for global health. This funding represents a component of the United States’ Official Development Assistance (ODA), demonstrating the implementation of financial commitments to support international development goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides specific financial figures that serve as direct indicators for measuring the allocation of resources towards the identified targets. These are quantitative measures of the financial commitment.

• Indicator: Financial Allocations

  The article specifies the exact amounts of funding allocated, which can be used to track financial support for global health. The key figures mentioned are:

  • $693 million for global health programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This amount covers activities related to Target 3.3 (combating diseases) and Target 3.d (emergency response).
  • $95 million for global health research activities at the Fogarty International Center (FIC) at NIH. This figure is a direct indicator for progress on Target 3.b (research and development).

  These funding levels are concrete indicators of the financial resources mobilized (Target 17.2) to support specific health outcomes (Targets 3.3, 3.b, 3.d).

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: kff.org