The U.S. Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR)  to fund the federal government through September 30, 2025, avoiding a shutdown that would have occurred after the previous CR expired on March 14, 2025. This CR, titled the “Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025” (H.R. 1968), was approved by the House on March 11 and by the Senate late on March 14 before being signed into law.

For the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this CR generally maintains funding at the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 enacted levels through the end of FY 2025 (September 30, 2025).

Here’s how NIH fares under this legislation based on available details:

Overall Funding Level: The CR continues NIH funding at the FY 2024 enacted level, which was approximately $48.6 billion (excluding special appropriations like the 21st Century Cures Act funds). This means no nominal increase or decrease in the base budget compared to FY 2024. However, with inflation, this flat funding translates to a real-term reduction in purchasing power.

21st Century Cures Act Funding: A specific adjustment in the CR reduces the NIH Innovation Account (funded through the Cures Act) from $407 million in FY 2024 to $127 million in FY 2025. This $280 million cut represents a 0.6% reduction in NIH’s total budget when considering the broader $48.6 billion baseline. While modest, it impacts specific programs tied to this funding.

Operational Implications: NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) will likely continue their practice of issuing non-competing (continuation) grants at reduced levels—typically 90-97% of committed amounts—until final appropriations are set. However, since this CR extends through the full fiscal year, NIH may adjust these reductions to align with the sustained FY 2024 levels. Competing grants (new or renewal applications) may face tighter paylines or budget cuts to accommodate the flat funding, as seen in past CRs.

Salary and Stipend Caps: The CR keeps legislative mandates from FY 2024 in effect, including the salary cap at Executive Level II of the Federal Pay Scale (currently $221,900 as of January 2025) and the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipend levels for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows, as outlined in NIH notices from FY 2024. No increases are expected unless a full appropriation later overrides this.

Programmatic Concerns: While the base NIH budget remains stable, the lack of growth amidst rising research costs (e.g., equipment, personnel, and inflation) could strain operational capacity.  Additionally, recent NIH policy shifts—such as grant cancellations in areas like LGBTQ+ health and DEI, reported in early March 2025—may compound challenges, though these are separate from the CR’s direct funding impact.

In summary, under the CR approved a few hours ago, NIH maintains FY 2024 funding levels through September 30, 2025, with a notable $280 million cut to Cures Act funds. This provides stability but no growth, potentially leading to a real-term budget squeeze. Final impacts will depend on how NIH allocates these resources across its 27 Institutes and Centers, with adjustments possible if a full FY 2025 appropriation supersedes the CR later this year—though that seems unlikely given the full-year scope of this resolution. For the most precise details, NIH will likely issue an updated notice (e.g., via grants.nih.gov) in the coming days, reflecting the CR’s enactment.