President’s FY26 Budget Proposal Cuts the Department of Health and Human Services by 26%
Critical Cuts Proposed: On May 2, the administration released President Trump’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026. While this proposal is not final, it sets the stage for critical funding negotiations—and the impact on senior nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels could be significant.
What’s in the Budget Proposal?
- $163 billion in cuts to non-defense discretionary spending (a 22.6% reduction).
- 26% cut to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—the main source of funding for Meals on Wheels programs.
- Elimination of key programs like the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
- No funding details yet for the Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program, but we’ll keep you updated.
Budget Response: Meals on Wheels America’s Funding Request
To meet the growing needs of seniors, Meals on Wheels America is requesting $1.605 billion in FY26 appropriations for the OAA Title III-C Nutrition Program:
- $774.6 million for Home-Delivered Meals
- $670 million for Congregate Meals
- $160.1 million for the Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP), restoring funding to FY23 levels
This funding is essential. Right now, 1 in 3 Meals on Wheels programs has a waitlist, and nearly 13 million seniors are facing hunger. We can’t afford to fall short.
How You Can Help
✅ Email your Members of Congress and ask them to protect critical funding like the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), which many senior programs rely on.
✅ Make a Donation – Your gift helps us continue providing meals and support to local seniors, especially in times of funding uncertainty.
We’re committed to fighting for the seniors we serve, and we know you are too. Together, we can make sure no senior goes hungry or forgotten.
Go Deeper
Want to learn more about what’s in the president’s budget and how it could impact senior nutrition programs?
📘 View the full FY26 budget proposal
📄 Read House Budget Chairman Arrington’s and Ranking Member Boyle’s statements on the proposal.
We’ll continue to share updates as more information becomes available in the coming weeks.
