Federal Free At-Home COVID-19 Test Program Suspended Indefinitely

The U.S. government has halted orders for free COVID-19 test kits, leaving future availability uncertain as demand and funding decline.

The federal program allowing Americans to order free at-home COVID-19 tests stopped accepting orders as of March 9, 2025, with no clear plans for its return.
Since its launch in 2021, the initiative distributed over 900 million free test kits to households and community organizations across the U.S.
The suspension comes after fluctuating demand and repeated pauses in the program, most recently resuming in September 2024 before this indefinite halt.
The expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency in May 2023 shifted testing costs to individuals and insurance plans, although some local programs still offer free tests.
The FDA advises checking expiration dates on unused test kits, as many have had their shelf lives extended to ensure usability.