The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has awarded just one new research grant since FY26 started in October 2025 apart from faculty transfers and non-competing continuations, according to a Bloomberg news report on an analysis of NIH's RePORTER database. The report said that NCI is 42% behind its median pace for fiscal years 2020-2025 as of early March. That amounts to 1,350 fewer awards by this time.

Many academic institutions follow a June-July calendar, meaning that further delays could limit the ability of such institutions to budget, recruit and retain researchers, and avoid labor shortages. NCI received $7.4 billion (a $180 million increase) in a FY26 spending bill passed by Congress last month, but concerns remain over the agency's willingness to get funds out the door in a timely manner.