President’s FY 2026 Budget Request Proposes Steep Reductions and Eliminations to Nursing Education and Research Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 2025 – The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) opposes deep funding cuts to nursing education, research, and the workforce proposed in President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget. Released on May 2, this skinny budget represents the Administration’s topline spending priorities and includes decreases in federal funding across government agencies, which may include reductions to Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the elimination of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). AACN will continue to advocate for funding to support nursing education and research, which is critical to sustaining pathways into the profession and delivering high-quality healthcare to all Americans.

For FY 2026, the Administration specifically recommends a 26.2% reduction ($33.3 billion) in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The budget proposes an overall reduction of $1.732 billion for programs under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), including a $1 billion decrease for multiple health workforce programs, which could include the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs. Title VIII programs, administered by HRSA, address all aspects of nursing workforce demand, specifically education, practice, recruitment, and retention.

Further, the proposed budget calls for a $17.965 billion reduction for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This reduction includes the elimination of funding ($197.693 million) for NINR, a decision that will stall the advancement of academic nursing and upend the work and livelihoods of nursing students and earlier career scientists. Funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is reduced by $129 million.

In addition to the proposed cuts in funding for nursing science and education, the budget provides $66.7 billion for the Department of Education, representing an overall decrease of 15.3% ($12 billion). The budget calls for reductions across all programs in the Department of Education, including a decrease of $195 million for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Ed (FIPSE) and Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) programs. AACN has previously noted how critical higher education is to preparing nursing students to provide high-quality, patient-centered care for all citizens, and these cuts will create additional barriers for those pursuing graduate-level degrees in the field.

The President’s proposed skinny budget is simply a starting point in the appropriations process. AACN will continue to strongly advocate for academic nursing and urge Congress to advance a budget that provides robust support for our nation’s nurses with important and necessary funding in FY 2026. Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and support for NINR represent an investment in the nation’s healthcare infrastructure and are critical in the pursuit of the President’s goal of Making America Healthy.

AACN will provide updates when additional details are released as Congress continues to move through the appropriations process.

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The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (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.

CONTACT:

Robert Rosseter
(202) 463-6930 ext. 231
rrosseter@aacnnursing.org