Trump Administration Expected to Release Full FY26 Spending Request in Coming Weeks After “Skinny” Budget Indicating Massive Cuts, Changes to HUD Programs – Take Action!

President Donald Trump is expected to release his full budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2026 in the coming weeks, after unveiling a “skinny” budget request on May 2 indicating the Administration will pursue historic cuts to HUD funding in its full FY26 spending request, including a proposal that would result in an unprecedented 43% cut to HUD’s rental assistance programs. For additional details, read NLIHC’s analysis.

Every year, the Administration submits a budget request to Congress in advance of the annual appropriations process. Only Congress has the power to provide funding for federal programs, so the president’s budget request does not carry any legal weight, but it does provide an opportunity for the Administration to signal their priorities in the fiscal year ahead. During his first term, President Trump repeatedly called for massive spending cuts to HUD programs, including deep cuts to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program that, if enacted, would have taken housing assistance away from 200,000 households who rely on their HCV to keep a roof over their heads. The previous Trump Administration also pushed Congress to enact policies that would increase barriers to accessing housing assistance, including work requirements, time limits, and minimum rent increases on HUD-assisted households. However, thanks to advocates and congressional champions who worked tirelessly to protect HCVs and other vital HUD programs, these proposed cuts and policy changes were never enacted. 

The “skinny” budget request makes clear these threats will be raised again as FY26 negotiations take shape. The President’s full budget request is expected to be released later in May and will provide additional details of the White House’s recommendation for FY26 spending. Over the coming weeks, members of the President’s Cabinet – including HUD Secretary Scott Turner – will appear before the House and Senate Appropriations Committee to discuss and justify the president’s budget proposal. Secretary Turner’s hearing has yet to be scheduled. 

The need for additional funding for the Emergency Housing Voucher Program 

In addition to the need for increased funding in FY26 to cover the cost of HCV renewals, Congress will need to provide funding to ensure the 60,000 households who receive an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) do not lose their assistance. The EHV program was created in the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” which provided $5 billion for 60,000 new tenant-based rental assistance vouchers specifically targeted to people experiencing or at immediate risk of homelessness, including people escaping intimate partner violence. The EHV program mandates that public housing authorities (PHAs), which are responsible for administering the program, work with their local Continuums of Care (CoCs) to identify people and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness and connect them to an EHV, plus wrap-around services when needed for long-term housing stability. 

The EHV program has been extremely successful, helping almost 60,000 people and families – and in particular families with children – find and maintain stable housing. While funding for the program was originally slated to last until 2030, the rapid increase in the cost of rent over the last four years has caused funding to run out much more quickly than expected. Unless additional funding is allocated by Congress, HUD estimates that funding for the program will likely run out in 2026. 

Take Action 

As Congress beings their work on FY26, NLIHC will continue to monitor developments and provide updated materials for advocates to take action and demand increased funding for HUD’s vital programs in any final FY26 spending bill. 

Urge Congress to pass a FY26 spending bill with increased funding for HUD’s affordable housing and homelessness programs!

Use NLIHC’s toolkits and resources to take action on FY26 funding, including by:

• Emailing or calling members’ offices to tell them about the importance of affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources to you, your family, your community, or your work. You can use NLIHC’s Take Action page to look up your member offices or call/send an email directly!
• Sharing stories of those directly impacted by homelessness and housing instability. Storytelling adds emotional weight to your message and can help lawmakers see how their policy decisions impact actual people. Learn about how to tell compelling stories with this resource.
• Check out the “Reject Housing Cuts and EHV Funding Cliff: Action Toolkit,” developed in partnership with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), National Alliance to End Homelessness, and National Housing Law Project. The toolkit has talking points, resources, advocacy ideas and more!

National, state, local, tribal, and territorial organizations can also join over 2,300 organizations on CHCDF’s national letter calling on Congress to support the highest level of funding possible for affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources in FY26.