NRHA Statement on President’s FY 2026 Budget Request

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is deeply alarmed by the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget Request, which proposes the elimination of core rural health programs previously administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), including the Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program, State Offices of Rural Health (SORH), and the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program. These targeted eliminations come at a time when nearly half of all rural hospitals are operating at a financial loss, and communities across rural America continue to experience persistent workforce shortages, limited access to care, and disproportionate rates of chronic illness. 

To support rural communities, the budget provides $284 million for grant programs and technical assistance, including $145 million for the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program to maintain prevention, treatment, and recovery services for substance use disorder in rural communities. This investment, while critical, is not sufficient to meet the health care needs of rural communities, nor can it offset the widespread damage that would result from eliminating foundational rural health programs like the SORH and Flex programs.  

NRHA stands ready to work with Congress to ensure that the final FY 2026 appropriations package reflects the needs of rural communities and protects access to high-quality, affordable care for all. Please see NRHA’s FY26 Appropriations Requests for more information. Please contact Alexa McKinley Abel, NRHA Government Affairs and Policy Director, for questions or concerns at amckinley@ruralhealth.us.