June 2026
On June 9, the House Appropriations Committee advanced the FY 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Appropriations Bill by a 34–28 vote, setting up sharp contrasts in federal research priorities. The bill includes a modest increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) while significantly reducing funding for the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).
Institute of Education Sciences Faces Major Reduction
The bill provides a total of $493.5 million for IES. While this exceeds the $261.3 million proposed in the president’s FY 2027 budget request, it represents a $296 million decreased from FY 2026 enacted levels—a reduction of approximately 37.5 percent.
Committee report language states that the funding level reflects amounts available “absent the elimination of current funding resources,” referencing unspent FY 2025 and FY 2026 appropriations that, as of February, have not been apportioned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Within IES, bill would eliminate funding for the Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs), the Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) program, and Special Education Studies and Evaluations that support implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Most other IES programs would also see reductions. The exception is Research in Special Education, which would remain level-funded at FY 2026 levels within the National Center for Special Education Research.
Program Transfers and Targeted Eliminations
The bill follows a June 4 announcement by IES Acting Director Matthew that four programs previously housed in the Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) have been transferred to IES: Comprehensive Centers, Education Innovation and Research (EIR), Javits Gifted and Talented Education, and Equity Assistance Centers
Under the House proposal, funding would be eliminated for both the Comprehensive Centers and the Javits program. EIR would be maintained at its current funding level of $235 million.
In accompanying report language, appropriators also call for IES to set aside funds for the Accelerate, Transform, Scale initiative and to streamline peer review processes and the development of practitioner-facing guidance through the What Works Clearinghouse.
NIH Receives Slight Increase, ARPA-H Maintained
In contrast to cuts proposed elsewhere in the bill, the House LHHS legislation rejects reductions to NIH. The bill provides $48.82 billion for NIH, a small increase of $100 million over FY 2026 levels.
The measure also includes $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health (ARPA-H). Funding for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) would remain flat at $1.77 billion.
Renewed Push for National Reading Panel
Report language accompanying both NICHD and IES directs the agencies to work together on reconvening a National Reading Panel. The panel would include 15 members representing reading researchers, colleges of education, teachers, school administrators, and parents.
The panel’s final report would assess the classroom readiness of reading research and, where appropriate, outline strategies for rapid dissemination to support reading instruction. The proposal reflects discussion during a February 2026 House LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee hearing focused on the implementation of science of reading policies and evidence-based literacy instruction (see AERA Highlights summary of the hearing).
What Comes Next
The House Appropriations Committee has now advanced all FY 2027 spending bills except the defense appropriations measure, which is scheduled for consideration on June 24. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet advanced any FY 2027 bills amid ongoing disagreement over defense and non-defense spending levels.
With FY 2026 set to expire on September 30 and a compressed legislative calendar ahead of the midterm elections, a continuing resolution extending current funding levels into FY 2027 is widely expected.