Washington, DC (May 2, 2025)—The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) expresses its grave concern over the President's
fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request released today.
It outlines many top-line, detrimental cuts to federal programs and
agencies that keep the health of our nation and the core of our
biomedical and biobehavioral scientific enterprise thriving.
While
we await the release of the President’s full budget request, the level
of cuts proposed is staggering. Therefore, the Academy must stress
again that Congress should firmly reject this funding plan as they
develop their FY 2026 appropriations bills and commit to a bipartisan
approach that fully invests in the health of the nation.
From
research and public health, to workforce development and access to
care, seemingly no area of health and health care delivery would be
untouched. These recommendations would block innovation, lessen quality
of care, and offer a short-sighted view to the importance of federal
health care spending.
“The
American Academy of Nursing holds a strong vision to achieve healthy
lives for all people. This plan runs counter to our work and will
reverse progress,” said President Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC,
FADLN, FNAP, FAAN.
The
Administration recommends dismantling significant portions of agencies
that support the research and science agenda. Close to 40% of the
National Institutes of Health’s budget would be cut, which includes the
elimination of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and
the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. It
cannot be emphasized enough that eliminating NINR will stymie critical
research that creates evidence-based, community-centered solutions.
Moreover, NINR is one of the few institutes that blend biomedical and
biobehavioral research seeking to improve patient care across the
continuum.
Moreover,
significant consolidations would be made to the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality’s programs and reduces its budget by 35%. In
addition, the National Science Foundation’s budget would be cut by 57%.
From
a public health perspective, this plan strips important public health
preparedness and mental health programs. Equally important and of major
concern is the plan’s recommendation to consolidate workforce
development and training programs within the Health Resources and
Services Administration. Without a robust pipeline of future clinicians—
for which many rely on federal funding to support their desire to work
in medically underserved areas—we would anticipate a downstream effect
on the health of communities.
“We
must consider the full spectrum of care and the full spectrum of
patient populations,” said Dr. Scott. “From individuals in rural
communities and families living below the poverty line, we cannot
jeopardize so many of the programs they rely on. We must take a
long-term approach to health. Short-term savings will lead to long-term
expenditures. And in the end, poorer quality of health overall.”
The Academy stands ready to work with Congress to prioritize health for all.
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