Action Alert: Speak Up for Aging and Disability Services

Photo courtesy of Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging (W4A)

The president’s FY 2026 Health and Human Services (HHS) budget draft was leaked last week, and it shows the Trump Administration’s intent to tear apart Older Americans Act (OAA) programs and send them to two different agencies. The draft proposes to move most OAA programs to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and move only OAA Title III C nutrition programs to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). In addition, the budget recommends eliminating funding in FY 2026 for several critical OAA programs, including Title III D (Health Promotion) and Title VII (Long-Term Care Ombudsman), as well as State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs/SHIBA), elder justice programs, and more.

USAging and W4A have major concerns about President Trump’s draft budget because it will dismantle and destroy the integration of the cost-effective aging programs and services under the Older Americans Act (OAA). OAA programs (except for Title V) are tied by statute to the Administration on Aging (AoA), and the Act dictates that OAA is to be federally administered by an assistant secretary for aging, then implemented through state units on aging and area agencies on aging (AAAs), as well as community providers.

Please join us in urging Congress to keep all OAA programs together at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and for critical aging programs to be saved from elimination!

What is the Older Americans Act?

The Older Americans Act (OAA) represents the national commitment to helping older adults age well at home. Each year, nearly 11 million older Americans receive critical support through the OAA’s programs. It funds a wide range of services provided by the nationwide Aging Network, which includes states, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Title VI Native American Aging Programs, and tens of thousands of local service providers.

Through the OAA, older adults can access community-based resources such as:

• Information and referral services to help navigate aging-related challenges

• Congregate and home-delivered meals to reduce hunger and social isolation

• Health and wellness programs to prevent falls and manage chronic disease

• In-home care to support independence and dignity

• Transportation, adult day services, and elder abuse prevention
  Family caregivers can also receive OAA-funded support, including respite care, training, and assistance navigating caregiving challenges.

The OAA and the Aging Network operate on the principle that state and local governments should have the flexibility to determine and coordinate services that best meet the unique needs of older adults and caregivers in their communities. It is the cornerstone of the nation’s non-Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) system, delivering essential, person-centered support across the country. Information from USAging.

Please take action now

STEP 1: Call your U.S. representative

If you don’t know who that is, find them HERE. You can also reach them through the U.S. Capitol switchboard 24/7 at: 1-202-224-3121.

ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO:
I am writing to you to share grave concerns regarding President Trump’s draft FY 2026 Health & Human Services (HHS) budget, which proposes to split Older Americans Act (OAA) programs across two different HHS agencies: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Administration for Children & Families (ACF). If the proposed breakup of the programs and the elimination of major initiatives in the OAA goes forward, it will severely impact the ability of older adults to remain living at home and in the community. Please do all you possibly can to ensure that the federal administration of OAA programs follows the law, and the OAA programs that were formerly at the Administration for Community Living are moved intact to the ACF.

STEP 2: Call your senators
Call Senator Patty Murray: 1-202-224 2621
or email her HERE.

Call Senator Maria Cantwell: 1-202-224-3441
or email her HERE.

THANK YOUR SENATORS AND ASK THEM TO:
Thank you for being a champion of the Older Americans Act! I have grave concerns regarding President Trump’s draft FY 2026 Health & Human Services (HHS) budget, which proposes to split Older Americans Act (OAA) programs across two different HHS agencies: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Administration for Children & Families (ACF). Please do all you possibly can to ensure that the federal administration of OAA programs follows the law, and the OAA programs that were formerly at the Administration for Community Living are moved intact to the ACF.

STEP 3: Attend any virtual events/town halls your senators and representatives are hosting

Especially during the current and upcoming Congressional recesses (house and senate: April 14-25, May 26-30), attend virtual events and raise the issue of splitting up OAA programs and the elimination of key aging programs during the Q&A.

Schedule meetings and visits with your lawmakers. Request virtual meetings or invite your lawmaker to an on-site visit when members of Congress will be in your district. Get on their local calendars NOW and engage them in local May Older Americans Month activities or other events! Individual site visits, even if virtual, are also a great opportunity to educate your elected officials about the importance of keeping OAA programs together under ACF.

(Tip: Put the request in writing. Call or email the D.C. office to ensure your request gets to the scheduler.)

Thank you for your quick advocacy on this IMPORTANT issue!

The Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging (W4A) advocates at the local, state, and federal levels for services that support older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers—promoting independence, dignity, and quality of life. W4A strengthens community partnerships, shares vital resources, and supports the work of caregivers across the state. The organization is made up of the leadership from Washington’s 13 Area Agencies on Aging.