On May 2, 2025, the White House released President Trump’s recommendations for discretionary funding in 2026. These recommendations would result in “significant savings” and budget cuts to several healthcare programs. The May 2, 2025 letter sent by the Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought (“the Letter”) outlines the White House’s recommendations in advance of the President’s full fiscal plan. The Letter explains that the recommendations are being provided now to allow the Appropriations Committee to debate and consider the appropriations bills for the upcoming year.
In particular, the Letter proposes a 26% cut to discretionary funding of HHS, including an $18 billion cut to NIH, a $3.6 billion cut to the CDC, and a nearly $700 million cut to CMS. These budget cuts include the elimination of several programs, including the National Institute on Minority and Health Disparities, the National Center for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion, the National Center for Environmental Health, and HHS’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. “This cut will have no impact on providing benefits to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries,” the budget says.
The only proposed increase to HHS funding would be for the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative regarding issues including nutrition, physical activity, and healthy lifestyles, which would receive $500 million.
The Letter can be found here. The White House’s proposed budget Letter reflects only the administration’s recommendations and is not binding on Congress.
