Federal Funding for Breastfeeding Programs: Fiscal Year 2026 Update

Where the FY26 Budget Stands Now 

​Earlier this year, both chambers of Congress advanced Labor–Health and Human Services–Education (LHHS) appropriations legislation, setting the stage for negotiations ahead of the new fiscal year. 

In July, the Senate passed its FY26 LHHS bill, maintaining level funding of $9.75 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program and generally supporting maternal and child health investments across agencies. 

Two months later, the House advanced its own LHHS bill, omitting Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding entirely and instead directing $100 million toward a proposed Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative for health promotion and disease prevention. While the House proposal reflects interest in prevention-oriented work, the lack of specificity around how MAHA funds would support breastfeeding introduces uncertainty about implementation timelines, administrative oversight, and program accountability. 

Before these differences could be reconciled, appropriations negotiations broke down, resulting in a partial federal government shutdown on October 1. Federal operations resumed in mid-November following passage of a Continuing Resolution (CR), which temporarily extended funding for most agencies through January 30, 2026. Under a CR, agencies generally operate at prior-year funding levels and are constrained from launching new initiatives or engaging in longer-term planning. 

While the CR restored basic operations, it did not resolve the underlying disagreements shaping FY26 appropriations. For breastfeeding and lactation programs, this has meant continued reliance on carryover funding and deferred decision-making driven by agency constraints, at a moment when clarity and continuity are especially critical for states, communities, and service providers. 

House–Senate Divergence and Program Stability 

The contrast between the House and Senate LHHS proposals underscores a central tension in the FY26 process. The Senate approach emphasizes continuity in existing maternal and child health infrastructure, including programs with a documented role in improving maternity care practices and breastfeeding outcomes. The House approach consolidates resources into broader prevention efforts, leaving key questions about implementation, administrative capacity, and program accountability. 

For the First Food field, these differences have tangible consequences. Programs such as Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding provide targeted, systems-level support across maternity care, community, and workplace settings—support that is not easily replicated through generalized funding streams. Even where overall prevention funding remains substantial, ambiguity or delays in program design can disrupt training, technical assistance, and quality improvement efforts that depend on stable and predictable federal investment.  

​Deviations from Norms 

The FY26 appropriations process has unfolded in a highly atypical manner, reflecting broader strain on the federal budgeting system. For programs supporting breastfeeding and lactation, this has produced a fragmented funding landscape shaped not only by policy differences, but by instability in the process itself.  

The expanded use of rescission—the withdrawal of previously appropriated funds—has further complicated the budgeting process. While rescission is a lawful budgetary tool, its increased use undermines confidence that enacted agreements will be honored in practice. Effective appropriations depend on good-faith negotiation, predictability across fiscal years, and trust that agencies can plan and implement once funding decisions are made. When that trust erodes, appropriators proceed more cautiously, slowing the process and increasing uncertainty for programs on the ground.  

Additional uncertainty stems from proposals to reorganize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), shifting health promotion and disease prevention activities from the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to the MAHA initiative. The House LHHS bill funds MAHA, while the Senate version does not, instead directing resources to existing programs. This divergence raises questions about where and how breastfeeding programs would be funded in FY26. Should responsibilities shift between agencies, administrative lag is likely—introducing further risk of program disruption and service delivery interruptions.  

The Community Impact of Budget Uncertainty 

Prolonged funding uncertainty does not affect all communities equally. When federal programs lack stability, it places the greatest strain on families and caregivers already navigating barriers to care and access. Delays in funding decisions and structural unpredictability can compound challenges for those who depend most on consistent public health infrastructure and support systems, weakening the very pathways designed to promote just well-being. 

​What to Watch as the New Funding Cliff Approaches

​Congress now faces a January 30, 2026 deadline to either enact full-year appropriations or extend funding again. This decision point carries significant implications for program stability, agency planning, and the ability of the breastfeeding field to sustain momentum amid broader public health uncertainty. 

How Congress resolves these negotiations—and whether it restores predictability and trust to the appropriations process—will shape the federal breastfeeding landscape well beyond this fiscal year. 

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee will continue to monitor developments closely and share analysis to support collective understanding and engagement. In moments like this, clarity, steadiness, and shared commitment are critical tools for protecting the systems families depend on. 

To learn more: 

• Explore the Federal Appropriations for Breastfeeding webpage for a detailed analysis of FY 2026 funding levels 
• View the USBC Appropriations 101 webinar recording 
• Visit the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Policy Basics Introduction to the Federal Budget Process webpage 
• Subscribe to the Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire e-Newsletter to receive updates and action alerts, including individual and organizational action opportunities related to FY26 funding