House Appropriations Committee Votes to Cut Title VIII Nursing Programs in its FY 2026 Spending Bill

Washington, D.C., September 10, 2025 - The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is deeply disappointed by the vote to cut federal programs supporting nurse faculty and pathways into the profession. Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee advanced its Labor, Health and Humans Services, and Education (LHHS-ED) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 spending bill by a vote of 35 to 28. The measure called for significant cuts to Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, including the elimination of the Nurse Faculty Loan Program and the Nursing Workforce Diversity Program. Though AACN was pleased to see that the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) is funded for another year, the large decrease to Title VIII programs outlined in this bill is concerning. Specifically, the House bill includes:

• $258.629 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, a $46.843 million (15.34%) reduction, taking us back to levels we have not seen since FY 2020.

  • Elimination of the Nurse Faculty Loan Program.

  • Elimination of the Nursing Workforce Diversity Program.

  • $1 million (16.67%) increase to the Nurse Practitioner Optional Fellowship Program.

  • $5 million (7.76%) increase for Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention grants.

• $197.693 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), or level funding to enacted levels in FY 2024 and FY 2025.

The cuts to nursing programs are particularly disturbing as the Committee Report underscores the need to address the nursing and health workforce shortage and encourages efforts to expand faculty and clinical preceptors. This bill also provides level funding for Pell Grants and recognizes their role in increasing access to education for low-income students. Overall, this bill decreases funding to the Department of Health and Human Services by 6% and to the Department of Education by 15.31%.

During the Committee’s deliberations, AACN was pleased to see Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and others express support for retaining funding for these essential nursing programs, via an amendment and closing statement. While this funding was not reinstated during the House markup process, we remain deeply committed to working with Congress to ensure that the highest funding levels for these programs, as outlined in the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee bill, are enacted. More information on AACN’s advocacy efforts, including an updated FY 2026 funding chart, can be found on our website.

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About the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
AACN is the national voice for academic nursing representing more than 875 schools of nursing nationwide. AACN establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research and practice. For more information, visit www.aacnnursing.org.

CONTACT

Robert Rosseter
rrosseter@aacnnursing.org
(202) 463-6930