Congress funds cancer surveillance programs in FY 2026 package

Congress approved the FY 2026 appropriations package, preserving federal support for cancer surveillance programs and boosting cancer research funding. The plan gives $53.4 million to the CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries and adds $150 million for the National Cancer Institute over FY 2025 levels.

Why it matters: - Federal cancer surveillance programs will keep operating after Congress approved FY 2026 funding. - The package protects cancer registries that collect data used for research, treatment decisions and public health planning. - The funding also strengthens support for cancer research programs at the National Cancer Institute.

What happened: - The U.S. House of Representatives approved the FY 2026 appropriations package on July 22, 2026. - The Senate passed the package on Friday, January 30, 2026. - The bill provides $53.4 million for the CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries. - The bill adds $150 million to the National Cancer Institute compared with FY 2025 levels.

The details: - The National Program of Cancer Registries funding stays flat year over year at $53.4 million. - The funding outcome followed a White House budget proposal that called for eliminating NPCR funding and cutting NIH cancer programs by 40%. - The National Cancer Institute increase will support the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program, known as SEER, and other cancer research initiatives. - NCRA mobilized hundreds of volunteers to brief lawmakers on the role of cancer registries in patient care, research and public health. - NCRA Executive Director Lori Swain called the funding decision a victory for cancer surveillance and the patients who depend on cancer data.

Between the lines: - Congress rejected a budget proposal that would have sharply reduced federal cancer surveillance capacity. - The result shows bipartisan support for maintaining the national cancer data infrastructure even under tighter budget pressure. - The flat NPCR funding is still a win for the registry system because it avoids the proposed elimination of the program.

What's next: - Cancer registrars will continue collecting and maintaining the data used by researchers, clinicians and public health agencies. - NCRA and its partners are likely to keep pressing Congress to protect cancer surveillance funding in future budget cycles. - The boosted NCI funding should help sustain cancer research work tied to SEER and related programs.

The bottom line: - Congress kept a key cancer data system intact and added money for cancer research, despite an administration push to cut both.