Community letter to appropriators asking them to reject proposed cuts to HHS

Dear Chairs Capito and Aderholt and Ranking Members Baldwin and DeLauro:

The undersigned health and research coalitions and organizations write to express our concern regarding the Administration’s draft Fiscal Year 2026 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services. As drafted, the proposed budget would cut about one-third of the agency’s discretionary spending and effectively devastate our nation’s research, scientific, and public health infrastructure.

The draft proposal is dangerous and devastating. It would put our nation’s health and security at risk by defunding, and in some cases eliminating, vital programs that monitor and defend against infectious and chronic disease, battle opioid and mental health epidemics, protect the public against environmental and occupational health threats, reduce preventable injuries, address public health emergencies and deliver high-quality care to veterans, seniors, and other Americans. These cuts will also seriously undermine our ability to remain a global leader in developing the next generation of treatments and cures for cancer and other diseases.

…