Government Funding Law Includes Key ASHA Priorities

Last week, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (H.R. 7148) into law. The law funds important health and education programs administered by the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) for the current fiscal year that runs through September.

The law includes key funding and provisions that maintain access to audiology and speech-language pathology services. Although it does not provide as much funding as ASHA sought, the law is a positive result given the current policy and political climate. Previous versions of the bill would have slashed this funding and reduced access to audiology and speech-language pathology services by changing program administration and imposing burdensome funding requirements.
Below are key ASHA priorities addressed in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026.

Through HHS, the law:

• Extends Medicare telehealth authority through December 31, 2027;
• Maintains funding ($18.8 million) for federal grants to facilitate newborn hearing screenings—ensuring families receive timely audiologic screening, diagnosis, and crucial early intervention services and partially funding ($6.7 million) federal technical assistance with data collection, management, and research to support those programs;
• Omits restrictions in previous versions of the bill that would have blocked funds to implement, administer, or enforce non-discrimination protections or to provide gender-affirming care, including voice therapy;
• Increases funding by $300 million to $47.2 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and maintains its existing organizational structure;
• Preserves funding ($534 million) for the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders at NIH;
• Stops NIH from capping grant funding for indirect costs; and
• Removes restrictions on Medicaid eligibility to enable individuals with disabilities to continue working regardless of age while receiving Medicaid to support their independence.

Through ED, the law:

• Continues funding ($14.2 billion) for state grants under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;
• Maintains current funding for ED as a cabinet-level agency and rejects Administration efforts to dismantle the Department;
• Prevents ED from transferring funds to other agencies and notes that no authorities exist for the Department to transfer its fundamental responsibilities to other agencies; and
• Requires ED to maintain sufficient staffing levels to fulfill its statutory obligations.

What’s Next?

Congress will soon begin considering funding levels for programs ED and HHS administers for the next fiscal year that starts on October 1. ASHA will continue advocating for funding that preserves access to audiology and speech-language pathology services that ASHA members’ patients, clients, and students need, regardless of setting or mode of delivery. Learn more about advocacy priorities for audiologists and SLPs and take action to support these policies.

Questions?

Contact Kevin Stutman, ASHA's associate director of federal affairs, at kstutman@asha.org.