Appropriators Cut FDA Budget by $600 million

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies slashed $600 million (8.3%) from the Biden administration's 2024 proposed budget for FDA. The spending bill, which now moves to the full committee, provides $3.5 billion in direct budget authority, and $3.1 billion in authorized user fees— for a total budget of $6.6 billion.

Under the budget proposed in March (see earlier story), the agency was seeking a $372 million (10%) boost and a $150 million increase in user fees. The total FDA funding being proposed was $7.2 billion.

According to the subcommittee’s figures, $400 million is being shaved from FDA’s proposed user fee increases, and an additional $200 million is being cut from its direct budget authority. Compared to FDA’s FY 2023 approved budget, the FY 2024 budget authority being advanced is $100 million lower and user fees are staying flat. Specific details on where cuts are proposed were not available at press time.