Department of Health seeks $60.1 million for FY2026; federal grants, lab relocation and off‑island care top agenda

St. Thomas — Assistant Commissioner Nicole Craigwell Sims presented the Virgin Islands Department of Health’s FY2026 request Thursday, asking the Senate Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance to support a portfolio of local and federal funding that the department said is necessary to sustain public health services, complete infrastructure projects and stabilize a complex federal grant portfolio.

Craigwell Sims told senators the department’s total proposed FY2026 budget is $60,067,009.86: roughly $29.0 million in general fund support, $27.0 million in federal funding, $1.5 million in the health revolving fund and $1.6 million in non‑appropriated funds. The department said it oversees 30 operational programs, manages 93 single‑account federal grants and currently employs about 332 full‑time equivalents (176 general‑fund and 156 federally funded).

Major items and committee takeaways: - Federal grants portfolio and ARPA deobligations: the department reported a total federal grants award portfolio of about $97.9 million with approximately…