The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS') proposed fiscal year 2026 budget request is $94.7 billion, of which $6.8 billion is allotted for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), representing a decrease of $271 million from the fiscal 2025 FDA budget. Of the fiscal 2026 FDA budget, $1.2 billion has been requested for the Human Foods Program (HFP).

FDA Funding

One highlighted section of the budget request regards $234.6 million to advance Make America Again Healthy (MAHA) priorities to promote nutrition and “ensure the safety of the food supply.” Within the $234.6-million amount, $48.9 million is dedicated to addressing food additives, including the MAHA goal of combating the growing risks associated with ultra-processed foods by removing unsafe additives.

“MAHA priorities include investing in nutrition to combat the chronic disease crisis, removing harmful chemicals and other additives from food and packaging, addressing systemic food safety failures—such as infant formula contamination and shortages—and supporting critical laboratory operations,” the report says.

The budget request also addresses infant formula, a high-priority item for the HFP in recent years. “In March 2025, FDA embarked on Operation Stork Speed to ensure that infant formula products are safe and wholesome. The budget includes $14.7 million to modernize infant formula oversight by enhancing surveillance systems and monitoring of adverse events. This funding will ensure rapid response capabilities in the event of contamination or supply disruptions,” the report states.

Strengthening Food Safety Oversight 

“The budget includes a total of $97.8 million to strengthen food safety. This funding will support the inspection of high-risk facilities, enhance import oversight, expedite foodborne disease outbreak responses, and reduce associated illnesses. Technological advancements will also be funded to swiftly identify and combat foodborne pathogens, such as avian influenza,” the budget report says. 

Routine Food Safety Inspection Transition 

“The budget includes $33 million to expand current state agreements for routine inspections of domestic food facilities to cover all applicable domestic facilities, to the extent feasible. This paradigm shift streamlines routine inspections through a transformative oversight model that fosters enhanced collaboration between federal and state agencies and reduces redundancy. State partners can help the FDA meet its routine domestic inspection goals while enabling the FDA to focus on higher-risk commodity work, promote national consistency, and conduct increased international oversight activities. This initiative restores state funding while serving as a significant downpayment in advancing an integrated food safety system and safeguarding the U.S. food supply," the budget report says.

Human Food Laboratory Operations 

“The budget provides $6.8 million to support laboratory analysis that is critical to the surveillance of the food supply. Investments will support and expand laboratory capabilities to safeguard the food supply and fulfill the FDA and MAHA public health mission,” the report states.