NAEVR Research Funding Priorities

FY25:

• At least level funding of 

  $896.55M for NEI, and at least $48.8B for NIH

• Maintain the NEI as a dedicated institute within NIH

• At least $20M for the Vision Research Program within the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP)

FY26:    

• At least $1B for NEI, and at least $50B for NIH

• Maintain the NEI as a dedicated institute within NIH

• $30M for the Vision Research Program within the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP)

  

Federal Budget Update

As Congress continues to navigate the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) appropriations process, federal agencies remain funded under a continuing resolution (CR) that extends through March 14, 2025. This temporary measure, enacted in December, was necessary to avert a government shutdown while lawmakers work to finalize spending bills for the remainder of FY25. However, with the expiration of the CR quickly approaching, Congress faces significant decisions on federal funding priorities, including discretionary research investments that impact NIH, NEI, and DoD’s CDMRP Vision Research Program (VRP).

House Budget Resolution and Reconciliation Efforts

House Republicans introduced their budget resolution this week, outlining a framework that includes:

• Up to $4.5T in tax cuts to extend provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and introduce new relief measures.
• $2T in spending reductions over the next decade, with anticipated cuts potentially affecting Medicaid and discretionary spending, including NIH funding.
• A $4T increase in the debt ceiling to offset tax cuts and spending adjustments.
• $300B for defense and border security, allocating funding to military readiness and immigration enforcement.

While House leadership remains confident in its ability to pass this resolution, the slim Republican majority in the House may complicate efforts to advance a comprehensive fiscal package. Some members of the House Republican conference have suggested shifting to a phased approach, similar to that of the Senate, if consensus on a broader comprehensive budget deal remains elusive.

Senate Budget and Defense Spending Priorities

Senate Republicans unveiled their budget resolution last week, prioritizing border security and defense funding while advocating for a phased legislative strategy. Their plan includes:

• $340B over four years for national security.
• $175B for the Department of Homeland Security to enhance immigration enforcement and border security.
• $150B for defense to strengthen military readiness and infrastructure.
• A staggered legislative approach, first addressing national security funding, with subsequent efforts to pass tax cuts and broader spending measures later in the year.

Given the differences in strategy between the House and Senate, negotiations will be crucial in determining the final appropriations structure.

Impact on NIH and Vision Research Funding

Both chambers’ emphasis on tax cuts and increased defense spending raises concerns about discretionary research funding, particularly for the NIH and all the institutes, including the NEI. While NIH has historically received bipartisan support, overall budget constraints could result in flat or reduced funding for many discretionary health programs, including for biomedical research, which could limit grants for vision research and critical innovation.

DoD’s CDMRP VRP

The DoD funds key medical research initiatives through the CDMRP, which includes VRP. The Senate’s proposed increase in defense spending could offer an opportunity for sustained or even expanded funding for CDMRP programs in a difficult environment. With legislative priorities likely to remain focused on military readiness and border security, research programs within the DoD could also face stagnation or funding reductions.

Next Steps and Advocacy Efforts

Both chambers are working to reconcile their budget approaches, with the House considering a single-package fiscal strategy and the Senate advocating for a two-phase approach. The goal remains to pass appropriations bills before the March 14 CR expiration to prevent another government shutdown. Given the competing fiscal priorities and potential spending cuts, negotiations are expected to be complex and require bipartisan cooperation. In addition to identifying these priorities, a year-long CR has also been floated, and with narrow margins in the House and Senate, and Democrats unlikely to support these funding packages, Republicans have a narrow path to bring all members to the table.

While the reconciliation package does not yet specify exactly where spending cuts will be applied, early reports suggest discretionary programs, including NIH, could be affected. NAEVR will continue monitoring these negotiations alongside our coalition partners and advocate for sustained funding for NIH, NEI, and DoD’s VRP.

As budget discussions evolve, it is imperative that the vision research community remains engaged in advocacy efforts to ensure continued support for federal research programs that drive innovation and improve patient outcomes. NAEVR will provide further updates as legislative developments progress.