Congress has enacted legislation allocating at least $5.5 billion in taxpayer funding to finance pandemic and outbreak preparedness in fiscal year 2026 - despite no declared pandemic and no formal emergency authorization.

The funding is contained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148), which President Donald Trump signed into law on February 3, 2026, after the bill passed both chambers of Congress and was presented to the White House earlier that day. [Read More]