Mixed Signals on Biodefense in Trumps FY26 Budget Request

The analysis of the FY26 Presidential Budget Request indicates a general decline in biodefense and biosecurity funding across the US government, despite an overall increase in the Department of Defense budget. Significant cuts are observed in the CDC, NIH, and Department of State, while the Department of Homeland Security has undergone a major reorganization of its biodefense functions. The report argues that these reductions in vaccine R&D and global threat reduction efforts undermine US leadership and its ability to deter biological weapons.

• Despite a $160 billion overall increase in the Department of Defense (DoD) budget to $1.01 trillion in the FY26 request, biodefense spending did not grow proportionately. Specifically, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) request of $708 million is $150 million lower than the FY25 request, and the DoD Chemical and Biological Defense Program request of $1.61 billion is $46 million lower than in FY25.
• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) faces substantial cuts, most notably at the CDC, where the FY26 request of $4.2 billion is more than $5.4 billion less than the FY25 request. The administration is refocusing the CDC on core activities and a new biothreat detection system capable of detecting novel pathogens within 24 hours, while eliminating programs deemed "duplicative, DEI, or simply unnecessary."
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) are seeing significant funding reductions. The NIH request of $27,506 million is $16,963 million lower than FY25 appropriations, with a shift away from "risky research" toward the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. ASPR faces a $240 million cut compared to FY25 enacted appropriations.
• The Department of State (DOS) has reduced funding for global biodefense and nonproliferation. The Global Threat Reduction Program request is $65.0 million ($22 million less than FY25), the Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism request fell to $7.0 million from $10.5 million, and cooperation for the Biological Weapons Convention and Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty decreased to $5.0 million.
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dissolved the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) and transferred its functions. This reorganization includes moving CBRN strategy to the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans ($36.9 million), the National Biosurveillance Integration Center to the Office of Health Security ($24.7 million), and operational programs like BioWatch to CISA ($238 million). Total CWMD/CBRN funding appears to have decreased by $103 million.
• The Department of Agriculture (USDA) requested modest cuts to biosecurity roles. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service request is $1.15 billion ($1.0 million less than FY25), while Crop Protection and Livestock Protection requested $248 million and $153 million respectively, representing decreases of $4 million and $1 million from FY25 enacted levels.

APA

The Council on Strategic Risks (2025). Mixed Signals on Biodefense in Trumps FY26 Budget Request. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/09/04/mixed-signals-on-biodefense-in-trumps-fy26-budget-request/

Chicago

The Council on Strategic Risks. Mixed Signals on Biodefense in Trumps FY26 Budget Request. 2025. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/09/04/mixed-signals-on-biodefense-in-trumps-fy26-budget-request/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=The Council on Strategic Risks |title=Mixed Signals on Biodefense in Trumps FY26 Budget Request |date=4 September 2025 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/09/04/mixed-signals-on-biodefense-in-trumps-fy26-budget-request/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{thecouncilonstrategicrisks2025mixed, author = {{The Council on Strategic Risks}}, title = {{Mixed Signals on Biodefense in Trumps FY26 Budget Request}}, institution = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2025}, month = sep, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/09/04/mixed-signals-on-biodefense-in-trumps-fy26-budget-request/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }