More than 40 percent of pregnant women who delivered a baby with congenital syphilis in 2023 did not receive a syphilis test in time to be adequately treated before delivery, a gap the federal government is now spending $4 million to close.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced the initiative on August 12, 2026. It directs approximately $3.25 million in supplemental awards to recipients of the CDC's Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments cooperative agreement, expanding access to point-of-care syphilis testing and linking patients to care from August 2026 through February 2027. Remaining funds support national partners who provide technical assistance and implementation support.
