On May 30, the administration released its detailed budget request for FY26, with significant improvements in the proposals for Aging Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

As we shared in April, early versions of the administration’s plans for restructuring HHS would have dismantled the Administration for Community Living (ACL), eliminated many ACL programs (including Older Americans Act (OAA) services), and moved the remaining ACL programs to various HHS agencies, undermining the coordination of OAA initiatives.

The detailed FY26 budget request for HHS keeps aging and disability programs together, merging them with Administration for Children and Families (ACF) programs into a new Administration for Children, Families, and Communities (ACFC). Most OAA programs would be level-funded, although there are still cuts to healthy aging and disability programs. Funding for the Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) would also be maintained.

OAA Healthy Aging

The latest budget request level-funds OAA Title III-D Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (Preventive Health) at $26 million, but still calls for eliminating the Prevention and Public Health Fund. That would cut all $8 million from Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME), $5 million of the $7.5 million for Falls Prevention, and $15.7 of the $31.5 million for the Alzheimer's Disease Initiative currently administered by ACL.

Other notable HHS programs

Earlier budget proposals called for eliminating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). The latest version would move NCIPC to the new Administration for a Healthy America, but details are still forthcoming about the future of individual programs. We also are still awaiting details about CDC’s leadership on Falls Prevention data analysis and engagement of the clinical community.

The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), which is the primary federal funding stream for Adult Protective Services (APS) and has also supported senior nutrition programs and senior centers, would be retained in the latest budget request. However, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) would still be eliminated.

Overall HHS funding would be cut by 22% under the administration’s proposal.

Aging Services at other agencies

Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is still proposed for termination, which would affect the program that would begin in July 2026. In place of SCSEP and other workforce programs, the administration is proposing a Make America Skilled Again block grant to states. Overall DOL funding would be cut by 65%.

All AmeriCorps programs are proposed for elimination, including the AmeriCorps Seniors programs: the Foster Grandparent Program, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and the Senior Companion Program.

At the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), which provides healthy food boxes of healthy to food insecure older adults, is proposed for elimination. Overall USDA funding would be cut by 30%.

At the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Section 202 Housing for the Elderly and other housing voucher programs would be eliminated and replaced with a housing block grant to the states. The Aging in Place Home Modification program and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which has supported senior centers and nutrition programs across the country, are also proposed to be zeroed out by the Administration. Overall HUD funding would be cut by 44%.

What’s next for the budget process?

The release of the administration’s budget request is just the start of the annual budget and appropriations process. The House and Senate have already convened hearings to learn more from the Administration, members of Congress, and various stakeholders. 

In the House, Appropriations Chairman Cole has announced the schedule for considering the 12 annual appropriations bills for FY26, with Committee action occurring as soon as June 5, and the final bill, the Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill scheduled for a Committee vote on July 24. The Senate also needs to produce its versions of the 12 bills, and the House and Senate proposals need to be reconciled and passed to complete the FY26 process.

With recent history as a guide, we don't expect Congress to finish work on FY26 appropriations before the fiscal year starts on Oct. 1, 2025. A continuing resolution (CR) will likely be needed once again to keep the government open with (traditionally) level funding for programs. For FY25, Congress did not finish this work and a series of CRs provided funding for Aging Services and the rest of federal discretionary programs. We could see the same outcome for FY26.

What you can do

Congress needs to hear from you. Your stories have made such a difference so far. Tell your elected officials why OAA and other Aging Services programs are important for the health and independence of the older adults in your community. Invite them to learn about these services and those who benefit from them by visiting you back home (such as during the August recess).

Learn more about the Administration’s FY26 requests for Aging Services Programs and how it compares to current and past years’ funding in our annual funding table.

More about the federal budget

The annual appropriations process happens every year, when the discretionary spending portion of the federal budget is shaped by Congress. NCOA engages partners serving older adults across the country to advocate for these investments in Washington.

Funding for aging services programs, like the Older Americans Act, is a cost-effective investment. But program cuts over the past decade disproportionately affected vulnerable Americans, and new investments have yet to keep up with demand or the costs of providing services.

Empowering older adults to remain healthy and economically secure in their own homes and communities reduces spending on more costly entitlement programs. Every dollar provided to the aging services network for OAA initiatives also is leveraged by nearly three dollars in non-federal support.

Download NCOA's table of FY 2026 federal budget proposals and FY 2024 and 2025 appropriations for aging services programs of interest.