Trump Administration’s “Skinny” Budget Request Foreshadows Massive Cuts, Changes to HUD Programs – Take Action!

President Donald Trump released a “skinny” budget request on May 2 indicating the Administration will pursue cuts that would decimate HUD’s vital affordable housing, homelessness, and community development funding in its full fiscal year 2026 (FY26) spending request expected later this month. In total, the “skinny” request foreshadows a full request that will aim to slash HUD spending by 44% from FY25, 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. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Vice-Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) issued statements expressing concern over the cuts proposed in the request.  

“Based on my initial review, I have serious objections to the proposed freeze in our defense funding…and to the proposed funding cuts to – and in some cases elimination of – programs like [the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program],” said Chair Collins. “Ultimately, it is Congress that holds the power of the purse.” 

“This is a proposal to raise costs and make life harder—and worse—for working people in every part of the country,” said Vice-Chair Murray. “Among other things, President Trump’s preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget request eviscerates [HUD], with a 43.6% cut. [It] slashes HUD rental assistance programs by 42.8% while foisting responsibility over those programs onto state and local governments. Over 10 million Americans rely on HUD rental assistance, the vast majority of whom are seniors, people with disabilities, and children. This will rip the roofs off Americans’ heads and put even more families at risk of homelessness.”  

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) expressed similar concerns over the proposal, noting in a statement that the budget request will make the cost-of-living crisis worse by “attacking education, housing, cancer research, and investments in the middle class.” 

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. 

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.