White House budget recommends HHS cuts

The White House released its proposed fiscal year 2027 discretionary budget and is stepping up efforts to restructure HHS while cutting the department’s funding by 12.5 percent. The plan would create the Administration for a Healthy America as part of a “major reorganization” of HHS. Congress did not fund the agency last year, despite its inclusion in the 2026 budget request, and few details have been released on its progress. The proposal would consolidate programs from multiple agencies into the new agency – including the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the CDC and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health – covering areas like primary care, rural health and the healthcare workforce. The President’s budget request outlines the administration’s funding priorities for the year and serves as a starting point for the annual congressional appropriations process.