The move comes ahead of the typical fall and winter respiratory virus season, though a summer surge of infections has begun to fade.
This is the seventh time over the past three years the administration has made free tests available for all Americans.
The program has delivered more than 900 million free tests directly to American households since it started in the winter of 2021, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Health insurers no longer cover over-the-counter tests, which can cost about $10 or $11 per test at most pharmacies.
The tests give results within 30 minutes and can detect the currently circulating COVID-19 variants. They also include clear instructions on how to verify the extended expiration dates. Consumers are encouraged to check the Food and Drug Administration’s website to find the updated expiration information.
The announcement comes as the administration is trying to encourage people to get the updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and the updated flu vaccine.
