The Trump administration is making significant changes to the US federal health department’s budget, with plans to cut annual discretionary spending by approximately one-third, amounting to a staggering $40 billion. This move, outlined in a draft budget document reported by The Washington Post, is part of a larger effort to reduce government spending under the leadership of Donald Trump and his advisor, Elon Musk.
If approved by Congress, the proposed budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2026 would see a drastic reduction from the $121 billion allocated in 2024. While discretionary spending only makes up a portion of the overall HHS budget, which totals around $1.8 trillion when including mandatory expenditures like Medicare and Medicaid, these cuts would still have far-reaching implications.
In addition to budget cuts, the HHS has already announced plans to restructure its operations, including a 25% reduction in staff. This restructuring has also led to job cuts within agencies under the department’s purview, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The proposed budget not only includes cuts but also calls for a major overhaul of health and human services agencies. This could involve merging branches of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and eliminating programs focused on chronic disease, rural healthcare access, and early education for low-income children.
Overall, these changes signal a significant shift in the government’s approach to healthcare and public health funding. As the budget proposal moves forward, it will be important to closely monitor how these cuts and restructuring efforts impact the delivery of essential services to the American people.
—
This new article provides a detailed overview of the proposed budget cuts to the US federal health department under the Trump administration. The information is presented in a clear and concise manner, highlighting the potential implications of these changes on healthcare and public health initiatives.
