On behalf of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research, the National League for Nursing, and the Oncology Nursing Society, we are deeply disturbed by the recent news reported by the Washington Post and other outlets that the Trump Administration is proposing devastating budget cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) along with further restructuring of the agencies within HHS. While our organizations recognize that this proposal is not final and still needs to move through processes at the White House and within the Office of Management and Budget, the significance of cutting this vital health department by $40 billion as reported would be catastrophic to America’s health and safety.
Our organizations call on the Trump Administration to recalibrate their thinking of federal budget cuts to HHS and recognize that the health of individuals and communities as well as the economic repercussions would be dire. If HHS’s budget were cut this massively, the ripple effects would impact the longevity of the population. It would impact the health care workforce, the public health infrastructure, community programs, vital research, rural health, and every aspect of health in between. Prevention, treatment, and access to care would be interrupted at every level.
As nursing organizations, we stand to uphold what is core and critical to our profession— placing the patient at the center of our care. We stand in unity to advance health and advocate for innovation, progress, and reform where needed. Of particular concern is the proposed elimination of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since its creation 40 years ago, NINR has been federally authorized “to support research and training related to patient care at NIH.”1 The contributions of nurse scientists and researchers are both significant and enduring. The potential elimination of NINR from NIH would stall important discoveries vital to symptom management for chronic diseases, cutting edge initiatives and interventions, and training programs for nurse scientists; only to name a few. Nursing practice is driven by our science— the science of care— which improves quality, saves lives, reduces costs, and never loses sight of the patients we serve.
The process of reforming HHS needs stakeholder engagement and should be done with careful precision. Our organizations will continue to work with Congress and the Administration to protect federally funded health care programs, research, and the infrastructure that Americans need for better health, well-being, safety, and security.
