Trump Administration Proposes $163B Reduction in Health Budget

The Trump administration has proposed a federal budget that would significantly reduce funding for health programs, including a $33.3 billion (26.2%) cut to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), nearly halving the CDC’s budget and eliminating its chronic disease center. The National Institutes of Health would lose $18 billion, dismantling four of its 27 institutes. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services face a $674 million reduction, raising concerns among home-based care advocates about potential negative impacts on older adults and care providers, despite White House assurances that beneficiary services would not be affected. These cuts are part of a broader effort to restructure HHS, including eliminating 10,000 jobs and merging agencies, while shifting resources toward defense and border security. The proposed budget has alarmed public health officials and advocacy groups, who question how such deep reductions align with the administration's stated goal of improving Americans' health. Final budget decisions rest with Congress, which must pass a funding package by September 30 to avoid a government shutdown.