The Trump administration has unveiled a draft budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 that seeks to significantly reduce funding for federal health programs, including the complete elimination of the Head Start program. The proposal, dated April 10, 2025, outlines a one-third reduction in the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) discretionary budget, amounting to tens of billions of dollars in cuts.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) would see its budget reduced from $48.5 billion to $27.3 billion, with plans to consolidate its 27 institutes into eight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would experience a budget reduction from over $9 billion to $5 billion, leading to the elimination of several programs, including the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would lose nearly $500 million, with routine food inspections shifting entirely to state agencies. Additionally, the budget proposes eliminating funding for teen pregnancy and family planning initiatives, Lyme disease efforts, and global health projects.

The Head Start program, a longstanding early childhood education initiative serving low-income families, is slated for complete elimination. Established in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, Head Start currently serves about 750,000 children annually, providing comprehensive services such as education, meals, healthcare, and social support.

Public health experts and advocates have expressed significant concern over the proposed cuts. Jeremy Berg, a University of Pittsburgh professor and former director of an NIH institute, stated, "I just have not heard anybody say, 'We wish the government would spend less money trying to ... .'" He emphasized that the proposed $20 billion cut to the NIH budget would significantly impact efforts to address major health challenges.

The National Head Start Association expressed deep alarm over the proposal to eliminate Head Start funding. Executive Director Yasmina Vinci stated, "Eliminating funding for Head Start would be catastrophic. It would be a direct attack on our nation's most at-risk children, their well-being, and their families."

Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) criticized the administration's priorities, stating, "This administration believes we cannot afford to help families get preschool or help kids get basic health services ... . It's offensive and just plain wrong."

While previous administrations have proposed budget cuts to federal health programs, the magnitude and scope of the current proposal are unprecedented. During the first Trump administration, Congress increased the NIH's budget, indicating potential resistance to similar proposals. Historically, programs like Head Start have enjoyed bipartisan support, receiving increased funding in most of the past 15 years, including under the Trump administration.

The proposed budget cuts align with the administration's stated goals of reducing federal spending and devolving control of education and health programs to states and parents. The draft document states that eliminating programs like Head Start is consistent with the administration's "goals of ... ."

The draft budget proposal reflects the administration's fiscal priorities and has raised concerns among public health experts and advocates about the potential impact on disease research, prevention, and essential health services. As the budget is still in draft form and subject to change, it remains to be seen how these proposals will fare in Congress.