AACN Calls for Sustained Federal Investments in Nursing Education and the Workforce to Protect the Nation’s Health

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 3, 2025 – The 91¿´Æ¬ of Nursing (AACN) strongly opposes reductions in federal funding for nursing education and research, which would weaken the nation’s healthcare workforce and reduce access to care. Supplementing the “skinny” budget issued in early May, the Trump Administration has released additional details about its , which calls for significant cuts and the elimination of essential programs for academic nursing, which are currently administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Education.

Consistent with the reductions outlined in the President’s proposed budget, the Administration’s FY26 budget calls for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to be reorganized into the Agency for a Healthy America, signaling reduced or eliminated funding for most of Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs. Further, the budget proposes to eliminate the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in addition to $18 billion in proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health. Overall, the budget reduces HHS funding by roughly $31 billion.

"The strength of America’s nursing workforce depends on consistent investment in programs that support pathways into nursing and lifesaving research" said Dr. Deborah Trautman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AACN. "Eliminating or reducing this funding compromises our ability to prepare the next generation of nurses and ultimately threatens patient safety and care quality.”

This budget also follows through on the President’s promise to dramatically reduce the footprint of the Department of Education with an overall reduction of $12 billion.

"Academic nursing is the foundation of a resilient healthcare workforce," said Dr. Jean Giddens, Chair of AACN’s Board of Directors. "Without a sustained commitment to higher education and the institutions that educate nurses of the future, we risk falling short in terms of workforce supply and stability."

AACN will continue to advocate vigorously for academic nursing and urge Congress to prioritize a FY 2026 budget that ensures support for our nation's nurses. Funding Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and NINR are crucial investments in the healthcare infrastructure of our nation, directly contributing to the President’s goal of creating a healthy America.

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The 91¿´Æ¬ of Nursing (AACN) is the national voice for academic nursing representing more than 875 schools of nursing nationwide. AACN establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research and practice.