On Friday, May 2, 2025, the President released what is known as the “skinny budget” – a high level overview of the FY 2026 Budget Request. The table included with the requests outlines top numbers for departments and groups together changes in funding and policy, with little detail available. It’s worth noting that the President has specified that this is the request for discretionary funding right in the title of the publication; while mandatory funding is not subject to appropriations, the President can request that Congress make changes that impact mandatory funding as well.
Later in the spring, the White House will release a more detailed budget request, with budget charts for each of the departments, which will provide significantly more information about the funding requests for the Administration. Meanwhile, Congress controls the appropriations process; the President’s budget informs this process, but it is not binding policy.
The proposal that was released on Friday would cut funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by 26%, significantly reducing access to key services for many. Programs like the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) are listed to be eliminated, along with the Preschool Development Grants. Other programs would be combined and block granted, such as Title I funding for schools and funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Notably, elimination of Head Start does not appear to be included in the budget request, a testament to the outcry from the Head Start community and partners after the leak of the budget draft..
The budget proposes a nearly $27 billion reduction for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with state rental assistance block grants on the chopping block. It instead calls for the transformation of the rental assistance programs into a “state-based formula grant which would allow states to design their own rental assistance programs based on their unique needs and preferences.”
The President’s budget requests a 13% increase in defense spending.
