Congress approved the final FY2026 spending package that raises the National Institutes of Health budget by about $415 million to $48.7 billion. The increase reverses earlier proposals for steep cuts and restores funding stability for federal biomedical research programs. The appropriations outcome eases near‑term funding uncertainty for university labs, smaller research teams, and life‑science tools suppliers dependent on grant flows. Analysts and trade groups characterized the bill as an incremental win that preserves research capacity after a period of freezes and cancellations of awarded grants. The final appropriation will shape grant pipelines, clinical‑trial funding and capital allocation decisions across the biotech sector as companies and academic partners plan 2026 R&D activities.