The Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services delivers a devastating blow to the very foundation of aging services in America. By breaking apart the coordination and delivery of programs under the Older Americans Act, the administration is jeopardizing the health, independence and dignity of millions of older adults and their caregivers.

At the core of this proposal is the dismantling of the Administration for Community Living, the agency that has effectively administered the Older Americans Act for over a decade. Instead of preserving the coordinated structure that allows for comprehensive, community-based services, the plan would scatter Older Americans Act programs across different agencies under the Health and Human Services umbrella.

Some services, such as nutrition programs, would be moved to the Administration for Children and Families, while others — including caregiving, elder rights, transportation and health promotion — would shift to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

This fragmentation would severely undermine the coordinated approach that has made the Older Americans Act a success for nearly 60 years. The act was designed to be a comprehensive system of supports, offering older adults in every community access to a range of........

© The Hill