Summary of Tracking NIH Grant Funding

Figure 1

Figure 1 Overview

This figure contains a line graph that shows trends in NIH spending on extramural research over the course of FY 2021-2026. It shows that NIH funding in FY 2025 was markedly lower for much of the year, from February 2025 through August, although the NIH “caught up” to previous years by the end of the fiscal year. It also shows that NIH funding in FY 2026 has remained consistently lower than the previous five fiscal years, as of March 20, 2026.

Figure 1 Values (Billions)

	October	December	February	April	June	August	September
FY 2021	$0.10	$2,90	$6.30	$12.90	$20.90	$29.80	$33.50
FY 2022	$0.10	$2.70	$6.30	$12.10	$20.70	$30.80	$34.70
FY 2023	$0.10	$2.60	$7.10	$13.10	$21.60	$32.00	$35.70
FY 2024	$0.10	$2.90	$7.10	$12.30	$20.60	$31.70	$35.10
FY 2025	$0.10	$3.00	$5.60	$10.70	$16.00	$29.20	$34.40
FY 2026	$0.00	$1.30	$5.00

Figure 1 Presentation

The line chart displays the cumulative extramural funding obligated by the NIH over the course of FY 2021-2026. The x-axis represents the period through the end of each month and runs from October through September. The y-axis represents the total amount of funding obligated by the end of that month, in current U.S. dollars. The y-axis is displayed in billions and ranges from $0 to $40 billion. There are six lines on the graph, each representing a fiscal year: FY 2021, FY 2022, FY 2023, FY 2024, and FY 2025, all in gray, and FY 2026 (red). While the lines for FY 2021-2025 cover the full fiscal year, the line for FY 2026 only runs to the current date.

Figure 2

Figure 2 Overview

This figure contains a line graph that shows trends in the number of extramural grants awarded by the NIH over the course of FY 2021-2026. It shows that the NIH awarded fewer grants in FY 2025 by the end of February 2025 through the end of the fiscal year, resulting in the NIH awarding thousands fewer grants in FY 2025, compared to FY 2021-2024. It also shows that in FY 2026, the NIH has awarded consistently fewer grants than the previous five fiscal years, as of March 20, 2026.

Figure 2 Values

	October	December	February	April	June	August	September
FY 2021	219	5,653	12,908	23,356	39,835	57,622	63,099
FY 2022	326	5,829	13,623	26,648	39,559	58,553	64,360
FY 2023	174	5,357	13,679	25,341	41,082	60,054	65,388
FY 2024	363	5,743	13,889	23,842	39,261	59,341	64,070
FY 2025	165	5,881	11,083	20,168	29,285	50,978	57,866
FY 2026	0	2,460	9,045

Figure 2 Presentation

The line chart displays the cumulative number of extramural grants awarded by the NIH over the course of the fiscal year, for FY 2021-2026. The x-axis represents the period through the end of the month and runs from October through September. The y-axis represents the total number of grants awarded by the end of the month, ranging from 0 to 75,000. There are six lines on the graph, each representing a fiscal year: FY 2021, FY 2022, FY 2023, FY 2024, and FY 2025, all in gray, and FY 2026 (red). While the lines for FY 2021-2025 cover the full fiscal year, the line for FY 2026 only runs to the current date.

Figure 3

See Image Description — Note: *RPGs include the following activity codes: DP1-DP5, P01, PM1, PN1, R00, R01, R03, R15, R16, R21-R23, R29, R33-R35, R37, R50, R55, R56, R61, RC1-RC4, RF1, RL1, RL2, RM1, U01, U19, U34, U3R, UA5, UC1-UC4, UC7, UF1, UG3, UH2, UH3, UH5, UM1, and UM2.

**Research training and career development awards, which include all independent training grants and institutional training grants, including F, T, and K mechanisms. Source: National Institutes of Health.

Figure 3 Overview

This figure contains a line graph that shows the number of extramural grants awarded by the NIH, by funding mechanism and fiscal year, for FY 2021-2026. Between Oct. 1 and March 20 of FY 2021-2024, the NIH awarded a similar number of RPGs, R01s, R21s, R03s, and research training and career development grants. However, the number of RPG, R01, R21, R03, and research training and career development grants awarded in the same time period in FY 2025 was lower than the previous four fiscal years, and lowest in FY 2026.

Figure 3 Values

	All RPGs	R01s	R21s	R03s	Research Training and Career Development grants
FY 2021	12,591	9,207	1,320	334	3,056
FY 2022	12,581	9,110	1,287	322	3,058
FY 2023	13,026	9,522	1,258	280	3,170
FY 2024	13,098	9,439	1,188	243	3,203
FY 2025	10,584	7,736	839	176	2,251
FY 2026	8,350	6,026	566	86	1,647

Figure 3 Presentation

The line chart displays the number of extramural grants awarded by the NIH between Oct. 1 and March 20 for FY 2021-2026. The x-axis represents the fiscal year and runs from FY 2021-2026. The y-axis represents the total number of grants awarded, ranging from 0 to 14,000. There are five lines on the graph, each representing a specific type of grant: RPGs (navy blue), R01s (bright blue), R21s (teal green), R03s (dark blue), and research training and career development awards (dark green).

Figure 4

Figure 4 Overview

This figure contains a clustered bar graph and a superimposed line graph. The bar graph shows the total funding awarded to new extramural grants by the NIH and the total funding awarded to all extramural grants by the NIH, by fiscal year, for FY 2021-2026. The line graph shows the percentage of all extramural funding that was awarded to new grants. As of March 20, new grants comprise a smaller share of extramural funding obligated by the NIH in FY 2026 vs. the same period in FY 2021-2025.

Figure 4 Values

	Total cost, all grants	Total cost, new grants	New grants (%)
FY 2021	$8,090,010,102	$1,331,107,836	17%
FY 2022	$7,759,891,572	$1,324,476,655	17%
FY 2023	$8,862,745,568	$1,402,609,380	16%
FY 2024	$8,745,973,496	$1,238,609,909	14%
FY 2025	$6,985,718,414	$997,280,197	14%
FY 2026	$5,790,985,517	$660,576,369	11%

Figure 4 Presentation

The bar chart displays the total funding obligated to extramural grants — to all grants and to new grants — by the NIH between Oct. 1 and March 20, for FY 2021-2026. The x-axis represents the fiscal year and runs from FY 2021-2026. The y-axis represents the total amount of funding obligated in billions, ranging from $0 to $10 billion. There are two bars per fiscal year on the graph: all grants (navy blue) and new grants (light blue).

The line chart displays the percentage of all obligated extramural funding that was awarded to new grants. The x-axis is the same as the bar graph, representing FY 2021-2026. The y-axis represents the percentage of all obligated extramural funding awarded to new grants, ranging from 0% to 18%.

Figure 5

Figure 5 Overview

This figure contains a clustered bar graph and a superimposed line graph. The bar graph shows the number of new extramural grants awarded by the NIH and the total number of extramural grants awarded by the NIH, by fiscal year, for FY 2021-2026. The line graph shows the percentage of all extramural grants awarded that were new. New grants comprised a smaller share of all FY 2026 grants awarded by the NIH between Oct. 1 and March 20 compared to the share of new grants awarded in this same time frame in FY 2021-2025.

Figure 5 Values

	Total number of grants	Total number of new grants	New grants (%)
FY 2021	16,637	3,608	22%
FY 2022	16,586	3,466	21%
FY 2023	17,175	3,371	20%
FY 2024	17,272	3,160	18%
FY 2025	13,472	2,368	18%
FY 2026	10,327	1,187	11%

Figure 5 Presentation

The bar chart displays the total number of grants awarded — new grants and all grants — by the NIH between Oct. 1 and March 20, for FY 2026. The x-axis represents the fiscal year and runs from FY 2021-2026. The y-axis represents the total number of grants awarded, ranging from 0 to 18,000. There are two bars per fiscal year on the graph: all grants (dark blue) and new grants (bright blue).

The line chart displays the percentage of all grants awarded that were new grants. The x-axis is the same as the bar graph, representing FY 2021-2026. The secondary y-axis represents the percentage, ranging from 0% to 22%.

Figure 6

Figure 6 Overview

This figure contains a clustered bar graph. The bar graph shows the amount of funding obligated to multiyear-funded new research project grants (RPGs) and R01s, in millions, by fiscal year, for FY 2021-2026. Between Oct. 1 and March 20 of FY 2021-2025, the amount of funding awarded to MYF new RPGs and MYF new R01s was markedly less than in the same time period in FY 2026.

Figure 6 Values

	Multiyear-funded new RPGs	Multiyear-funded new R01s
FY 2021	$101,672,067	$8,674,259
FY 2022	$77,519,029	$3,039,194
FY 2023	$92,187,701	$618,078
FY 2024	$29,692,382	$734,650
FY 2025	$44,209,838	$0
FY 2026	$179,337,358	$58,238,102

Figure 6 Presentation

The clustered bar chart displays the total funding awarded to multiyear-funded new research project grants (RPGs) — to all new RPGs and to new R01s — by the NIH between Oct. 1 and March 20, for FY 2021-2026. The x-axis represents the fiscal year and runs from FY 2021-2026. The y-axis represents the total funding awarded, in millions, ranging from $0 to $180 million. There are two bars per fiscal year on the graph: RPGs (medium green) and R01s (light green).

Figure 7

Figure 7 Overview

This figure contains a clustered bar graph. The bar graph shows the number of multiyear-funded new research project grants (RPGs) and R01s awarded, by fiscal year, for FY 2021-2026. Between Oct. 1 and March 20 of FY 2026, the number of new RPGs and R01s receiving multiyear funding was markedly higher than the totals in the same period in FY 2021-2025.

Figure 7 Values

	Multiyear-funded RPGs	Multiyear-funded R01s
FY 2021	133	10
FY 2022	110	2
FY 2023	96	1
FY 2024	70	1
FY 2025	86	0
FY 2026	260	23

Figure 7 Presentation

The clustered bar chart displays the total number of multiyear-funded new research project grants (RPGs) — all new RPGs and new R01s — awarded by the NIH between Oct. 1 and March 20 for FY 2021-2026. The x-axis represents the fiscal year and runs from FY 2021-2026. The y-axis represents the total number of MYF new grants, ranging from 0 to 260. There are two bars per fiscal year on the graph: RPGs (medium green) and R01s (light green).