AUCD | Disability Policy News

June 6, 2025 | Vol. MMXXV | Issue 115

President's Budget

On May 30, the President released his budget, which proposes massive cuts to government departments and agencies—as previewed in his “skinny” budget proposal released earlier in May. The budget proposes a $31.3 billion cut to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a $12 billion cut for federal education programs, including a 36% cut to the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education. Agency heads have started testifying in front of various Congressional committees to discuss the President’s budget proposal.

Key Takeaways

Despite advocacy from the disability community, Dear Colleague Letters with bipartisan support, and a commitment from Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to protect the Developmental Disabilities Network, the President’s budget explicitly proposes the elimination of the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs). The President’s Budget does not give us specific information on LEND programs and IDDRCs.

Other notable elements:

National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDLRR) - moved to the Administration for Children, Families, and Communities (ACFC), funded $100 million
DD Councils - moved to ACFC, funded at $80 million
Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) - funded $13.8 million
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - cut $1.8 billion

The President's budget serves as a roadmap for Congress for how the Administration wants Congress to fund the government. Congress does not have to follow the recommendations of the Administration. This gives us opportunity to continue fighting for the programs we care about. AUCD is continuing to analyze and monitor how budget proposal would affect the broader DD Network. Read AUCD’s statement here. Read this article about the cuts to UCEDDs.

Action Item – Contact your elected officials to educate them about the important work that UCEDDs, as well as LENDs and IDDRCs do. You can use the talking points or the email scripts linked below.

These talking points were shared upon the release of the “skinny” budget several weeks ago; they are as relevant now and can be used to provide context about our programs.

Reminder: please review the guidance on educating vs. lobbying, and as you personalize these messages, use your discretion on whether you contact Members of Congress personally versus professionally, and if you need alter the language to better meet your university’s requirements.

Plain Language

The President writes a budget that they have to send to Congress every year. This budget shows how much money that want to give to different parts of the government. It is not law. The Administration’s budget takes a lot of money away from government programs in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education that support people with disabilities and their families. AUCD is worried about the budget that came out because the budget would not give any money to the University Centers of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs). The UCEDDs do a lot of important work for people with disabilities and their families and have had support from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Now, it is up to Congress how they give money to important programs like UCEDDs. AUCD does not want Congress to follow this budget suggestion because it will be extremely harmful to people with disabilities in lots of ways, including getting rid of UCEDDs.

Read the full newsletter.