WASHINGTON, D.C., April 6, 2026 – The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is deeply dismayed by the proposed reductions to federal investments in nursing education, research, and workforce development outlined in the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget request. Echoing the President’s FY 2026 request, this budget again proposes broad decreases in funding across key federal agencies, including the elimination of nearly all Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and steep cuts to the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).

For FY 2027, the Administration proposes a 12.5% reduction ($15.8 billion) in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This includes a nearly 70% proposed decrease ($212.837 million) in funding for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs by eliminating all but the Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program. The Title VIII Programs play a vital role in addressing nursing workforce needs by supporting education, practice, recruitment, and retention across a range of care settings.

The President’s budget also cuts funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $5 billion, including a 30% reduction ($59.308 million) in funding for NINR. While AACN appreciates that the Administration proposed to maintain NINR as an independent institute within NIH this year, this cut would slow scientific progress, limit innovation in patient care, and undermine the development of future nurse scientists. Finally, the budget proposes a 2.9% decrease ($2.3 billion) in discretionary funding for the Department of Education.

“AACN remains committed to advancing sustained federal support for nursing education and research, which are critical to maintaining strong pathways into the profession and to ensuring that patients across the country can access high-quality healthcare,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, AACN President and Chief Executive Officer. “These investments are essential to strengthening the supply of highly educated nurses who are needed to meet increasingly complex healthcare demands.”

The President’s FY 2027 budget request marks the beginning of the annual appropriations process. AACN will continue to work closely with Congress to advocate for a final budget that reflects the critical role of nursing in the healthcare system and ensures robust investment in nursing education, workforce development, and research. AACN will provide further updates as the appropriations process moves forward and will be seeking AACN member engagement to once again advocate on behalf of academic nursing.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the voice for academic nursing representing more than 890 member schools of nursing at public and private institutions nationwide. AACN works to establish quality standards for nursing education; assists schools in implementing those standards; influences the nursing profession to improve health care; and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research, and practice. Learn more at aacnnursing.org.

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