The ADA and nine other dental organizations are urging Congress to reject the administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal for the Department of Health and Human Services.
Specifically, the coalition said the budget proposal would cut critical investments in oral health research, prevention and workforce infrastructure. In a May 6 letter, the coalition highlighted that federally supported research has established strong connections between oral disease and systemic health conditions, including endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and birth complications, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, and oral and throat cancer.
“The president’s proposed cuts would place our nation’s oral health at risk by defunding, and in some cases eliminating, vital programs that defend against chronic disease, strengthen the dental workforce and promote a healthier America,” the letter said. “These cuts would also weaken our nation’s ability to remain a global leader in developing the next generation of treatments and cures for oral diseases and their broader systemic health implications.”
Source: Reject fiscal year 2026 HHS budget proposal, ADA urges / ADA News