Trump administration plans deep cuts to federal health programs

A preliminary draft budget from the Trump administration proposes cutting the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) discretionary budget by about one-third, reducing it from roughly $120 billion to $80 billion in fiscal year 2026. The plan calls for eliminating or consolidating several agencies, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Health Resources and Services Administration, and creating a new Administration for a Healthy America. Major programs facing elimination include Head Start, which provides early education and care for low-income children, and initiatives related to HIV/AIDS prevention, mental health, and chronic disease. Proposed cuts would also significantly reduce funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, potentially disrupting biomedical research and public health initiatives. Critics warn the cuts could exacerbate healthcare disparities and harm vulnerable populations, while supporters argue they reflect a shift toward state control and fiscal restraint. These proposals are not final and would require Congressional approval to be implemented.