Bioscience Bulletin – December 22, 2025

Congress: Both chambers are now in recess until the new year.

• FY 2026 Appropriations: No progress was made in advancing the pending nine appropriations bills, including those that fund defense and most HHS programs. Congress must meet a January 30 deadline, when funding from the continuing resolution runs out.
• National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): On Wednesday, the Senate passed by a bipartisan 77-20 majority, the $900 billion bill which includes numerous provisions on biotechnology and R&D, and which cleared the House last week. President Trump signed the bill into law on Thursday.
• ACA & Healthcare Legislation:
  • House:
    • On Wednesday, the House Republicans passed their bill to address healthcare costs. It excludes short term extensions of expiring ACA tax credits, due to intervention by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
    • Democrats were able to force a January vote on extending subsidies by three years, after four moderate Republicans signed on to a discharge petition championed by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
  • Senate:
    • Discussions continued on compromise healthcare legislation that would include extending ACA credits, albeit with no clear outcome.
    • The chamber unexpectedly failed to advance the Give Kids a Chance Act pediatric cancer bill, which the House passed earlier this month. This was because of objections by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who while supporting the core legislation, objected to other provisions added on, and the lack of progress on other bipartisan healthcare measures. This legislation may be reconsidered in the new year.
• Committee Hearings:
  • On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on Wednesday on 'Examining Biosecurity at the Intersection of AI and Biology’. It featured testimony by: Dr. James Diggans of Twist Bioscience, Dr. Fiona Havers formerly of CDC, Dr. Matthew McKnight of Gingko Bioworks, and Dr. Jassi Pannu of Johns Hopkins University. Highlights include:
    • Existing regulatory frameworks are inadequate to address technologies at the intersection of AI and biology, which increases the chances of adversarial nations and entities potentially misusing them and compromising US biosecurity, including through deployment of bioweapons.
    • Democrats on the committee primarily highlighted dissonance between discussions at the hearing, and changes to public health and research infrastructure at federal agencies over the past year.
• HHS Public Comments: In a tie vote, the Senate failed to advance a measure, led by Sen. Angus King (I-ME) to repeal the suspension of public comment periods on certain decisions made by HHS.

Administration & Agencies: 

• FDA:
  • The agency announced and then backtracked on putting a black box warning on COVID-19 vaccines.
  • The CNPV (Commissioner’s National Priority Review) program for fast track drug review, has come under scrutiny this week, amid the pending approval of the first products selected under the scheme and reports of political interference in decision making.
• NIH:
  • The agency issued new guidance to staff on reviewing grants for alignment with wider Administration priorities, as outlined in a memo issued by Director Bhattacharya in August. This has been viewed as positive step by some observers, in that it will reduce sudden unexplained terminations of awards that have been the subject of substantial ongoing litigation.
• CDC
  • William Thompson, a vaccine adviser to HHS Secretary Kennedy is taking up a temporary role overseeing research into adverse childhood experiences. While a supporter of vaccines, Thompson is known for arguing that the CDC ignored certain data linking MMR vaccines with autism.
• CMS
  • A new MAHA program, the Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence (ELEVATE) Model will provide $100 million to fund multiple 3-year projects focused on chronic disease prevention among the Medicare population. The notice of funding opportunity will be released in early 2026.
• White House, Other Departments & HHS Divisions:
  • 340B: A decision is expected in federal court next week that may block HHS’s implementation of its Rebate Model Pilot Program in January.
  • Drug Pricing Deals: On Friday, the White House announced new agreements with nine drug companies to lower prices of their products for Medicaid, and implement direct to consumer sales at lower prices, in exchange for three years of tariff relief. Additionally, three of the companies, Merck, Bristol-Meyers and GSK agreed to donate six months of certain pharmaceutical ingredients to the Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Reserve. After the announcement event, the Administration indicated it will also plan to reduce Medicare payments for certain medicines, similar to actions announced during President Trump’s first term.
  • Cannabis: President Trump signed an executive order that moves cannabis from the most restrictive Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, to the less restrictive Schedule III. This may expand clinical research on cannabis and facilitate potential FDA approval of new medical cannabis products.
  • AI & Healthcare:  On December 23, HHS will issue a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit public comment on expanding the use of AI in clinical care. The comment period will be open for 60 days.
  • Lyme disease: HHS Secretary Kennedy convened a roundtable centered on a renewing support for diagnostics and treatment for Lyme disease.
  • Grant Terminations: HHS awards to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) were terminated this past week, amid the organization’s criticism of Secretary Kennedy’s policies.