On May 2, the Trump Administration released a “skinny” budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 which calls for massive cuts to public health programs and institutions. The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners opposes these cuts and eliminations because they will cause pronounced harm to children and pediatric health care, removing vital safety nets, defunding life-saving research and more.
The budget proposes a $33.3 billion decrease in discretionary funding for the Department of Health and Human Services, including $18 billion from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $3.5 billion from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), $1.73 billion from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and $674 million from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These cuts will almost certainly impact the ability of these agencies to support research and generate the evidence that guides clinical practice. They will also hinder the development and dissemination of clinical practice information and resources that are vital to our nation’s public health and to improving short- and long-term health outcomes.
More than $1 billion in additional cuts will effectively eliminate agencies such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), each of which currently manages resources and initiatives focused on improving pediatric health care. According to NIH, one in five children in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder; reducing or eliminating SAMHSA’s services is an ill-informed, short-sighted decision that may negatively impact an entire generation.
As a nursing organization, NAPNAP is also deeply concerned about the potential for HRSA cuts to affect Title VIII programs that address the education, practice, recruitment and retention of nurses in the workforce. In addition, funding cuts to the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) will significantly impede nursing research. Nurses are the country’s most trusted profession and the very backbone of our health care system; defunding nursing education and research when our nation faces a shortage of nurses and health care providers will negatively affect access to care and health outcomes for children and adults alike.
The funding reductions proposed by this budget would weaken our nation’s health care; children stand to suffer a large share of the consequences. As advocates for a high quality, evidence-based pediatric health care system, NAPNAP strongly urges Congress to reject this proposal and develop a budget that protects the health and well-being of all children. Our advocates stand ready to help Congressional leaders understand the risks associated with the Administration’s proposed budget and collaborate on solutions to fund children’s health care and nursing priorities.
May 8, 2025
