National Health Council Statement on the President’s FY 2027 Budget Proposal

National Health Council Statement on the President's FY 2027 Budget Proposal

The National Health Council (NHC) is deeply concerned by the President's FY 2027 budget proposal, which includes significant cuts to health care, research, and safety net programs that millions of Americans rely on. While we appreciate the Administration's focus through the MAHA agenda on improving the nation's health, many of the proposed policies would undermine that goal by putting access to care at risk for people living with chronic conditions and disabilities.

The proposal includes substantial reductions to key federal health and research agencies, including a more than 12 percent cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and reductions to ARPA-H. It also proposes restructuring or eliminating several NIH Institutes and Centers that play a critical role in addressing health disparities and advancing patient-centered research. In addition, the budget includes cuts to other key disability and health programs, alongside reductions to agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), further weakening the nation's public health infrastructure and capacity to respond to emerging health challenges.

Taken together, these proposals risk weakening access to comprehensive, affordable coverage and undermining the research, public health, and disability support systems patients with chronic conditions depend on for positive health outcomes and quality of life.

We urge policymakers to reject cuts that weaken the health care system and instead prioritize policies that protect Medicaid, strengthen access to affordable coverage, and sustain investment in public health and patient-centered innovation. The NHC stands ready to work with Congress and the Administration to ensure patients remain at the center of all policy decisions.