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On February 13, 2026, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy announced that HHS will direct $1 billion of existing departmental resources to addressing the construction backlog at the Indian Health Service (IHS). The allocation will begin in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 and continue over the subsequent years until the full $1 billion is expended. The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) applauds Secretary Kennedy, HHS leadership, IHS leadership, staff, and Tribal Nations for their tireless advocacy in support of better resources for Indian health and their commitment to trust and treaty obligations.
Why This Matters:
Outdated and poorly equipped facilities undermine the Indian health system’s ability to meet today’s community needs and respond to public health emergencies. Combined with the $809.22 million Congress appropriated for IHS facilities for FY 2026, this money will make substantial progress toward ensuring every IHS facility is a safe environment to serve all patients.
“Indian Country has been asking for critical investment to bring our facilities into the 21st century, and Secretary Kennedy has delivered,” said NIHB CEO, A.C. Locklear. “We commend HHS for taking this meaningful step towards addressing the long-standing construction backlog. We cannot adequately provide high-quality healthcare to our citizens while surrounded by crumbling, unsafe infrastructure. This is a significant move towards fulfilling the trust and treaty obligations to Indian health. We will continue to work alongside our congressional partners, as well as leadership at IHS, to efficiently address the remaining backlog through continued future appropriations.”
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