Trump's 2026 Budget Proposes Major Cuts to Medicare, Education, Energy

President Donald Trump's Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal seeks sweeping changes to federal spending, prioritizing increased defense and homeland security funding while imposing deep cuts across health, education, and social programs. The administration plans to reduce Medicare and Medicaid operational budgets by eliminating what it calls 'wasteful' and 'woke' initiatives, asserting that beneficiary benefits will remain unaffected, though critics warn service delivery could suffer. Major reductions target the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with the Department of Health and Human Services facing a significant budget drop. The proposal also eliminates or sharply curtails programs supporting low-income Americans, including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Economic Development Administration, and AmeriCorps, and slashes funding for education, environmental protection, and public broadcasting. Infrastructure and transportation are among a few domestic areas marked for increased investment, reflecting a shift in national priorities. The budget's impact is especially pronounced in rural and economically vulnerable regions, where many rely on the services slated for cuts.