FDA Proposes $1.9 Billion Budget for Fiscal 2006

The FDA has released highlights of its fiscal 2006 budget request to Congress totaling $1.9 billion, including $1.5 billion in budget authority and $382 million in congressionally authorized industry user fees -- 50 percent higher than the appropriations in fiscal 2001 and a 4.5 percent increase over the fiscal 2005 level.

The budget request includes increases for premarket reviews of medical devices and additional resources to manage the agency's infrastructure. The latter category of projects includes restoration of the facilities maintenance account and continued consolidation of the agency's facilities, including the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, at a single location in White Oak, Md.

The FDA is requesting roughly $6 million in additional budget authority to advance its medical device review process as conceived under the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act., along with $40.3 million in additional user fees for the Devices and Biologics Program.