House appropriations subcommittee hears IHS FY2026 request; members press to preserve advanced appropriations

The House appropriations subcommittee reviewed the Indian Health Service's fiscal year 2026 budget request Tuesday, with lawmakers pressing agency leaders to preserve advanced appropriations and pointing to persistent gaps in staffing, sanitation infrastructure and behavioral-health programs.

Acting Director Benjamin Smith said the administration's FY2026 request totals $8.1 billion, including $7.9 billion in discretionary funding and $159 million in proposed mandatory funding for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians. "The budget advances our Indian Health Service mission, which is to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level," Smith said.

Members of both parties pressed IHS officials on several high-priority items. Full Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told the acting director, "you can just take that to the bank," saying the committee will "be retaining advanced appropriations" after Congress first enacted them for IHS in FY2023. Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) said she "strongly oppose[s] the reductions proposed in the…