President's FY 27 Budget Request Released

Today, the White House released the President’s FY 2027 budget request, outlining priorities for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. The proposal calls for a $73 billion (10%) reduction in domestic discretionary spending, while significantly increasing defense funding.

Under the request, defense spending would rise by 42% to roughly $1.5 trillion, including a roughly $250 billion increase to Department of Defense appropriations over the FY 26 enacted level paired with $350 billion expected to be advanced through a forthcoming reconciliation package from congressional Republicans.

The President’s budget proposal calls for a $15.8 billion (12.5 percent) cut to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a 4 percent cut to the Department of Education (ED), and a 26 percent cut to the Department of Labor (DOL).

The President’s budget proposal calls for significant cuts to health workforce programs. A funding chart of HRSA Title VII and VIII health workforce programs comparing the President’s FY 27 budget request to the FY 26 enacted level was composed by the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) and is available here.

2026 ASAHP Scholarship of Excellence: Call for Applications

Each year, ASAHP offers a scholarship program for health professions students enrolled in its member institutions. The purpose is to recognize outstanding students in the health professions who are achieving excellence in their academic programs and have significant potential to assume future leadership roles in health professions. Each student chosen for an award will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The most exemplary Scholarship of Excellence recipient will also receive the “Elwood Scholar” award, qualifying an additional $1,000 in scholarship funds. We are now accepting applications for this year’s awards. The deadline is Friday, June 5, 2026.

More information may be accessed here.

Inside Higher Ed: What Will It Take to Address the Pell Shortfall?

Higher education experts and college access advocates are urging Congress to set aside nearly $40 billion in funding for the Pell Grant program this upcoming fiscal year, as the Congressional Budget Office projects the need-based scholarship will face a historic multibillion-dollar shortfall. If annual Pell appropriations remain flat at about $22.5 billion and the deficit is left unaddressed, the program will be short by nearly $17 billion in September 2027, according to the CBO; that number could reach as high as $132 billion by 2036.

Read the full article on Inside Higher Ed.

2026 ASAHP Election: Call for Candidates

ASAHP’s annual election will be conducted this Summer. The following positions are open for the 2026 election:

Board of Directors (three-year term) - 1 open position

Treasurer (two-year term) - 1 open position

Nominations & Elections Committee (two-year term) - 3 open positions

The candidate form, CV, and a headshot must be submitted via the Election Candidate Form no later than Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Election information is also available here. The election will open for voting on July 15, 2026 and will close on August 14, 2026.

Insider Higher Ed: Lawmakers and Universities Push Back on Loan Caps

Hundreds of lawmakers have joined dozens of university leaders and academic trade associations in urging the Department of Education to amend its new regulations on federal student loans, arguing the current rule will deter students from pursuing high-demand degree programs and thus exacerbate dire health-care workforce shortages.

Read more here: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2026/03/04/lawmakers-and-universities-push-back-loan-caps?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=96f3c22ca3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-96f3c22ca3-198493033&mc_cid=96f3c22ca3

Department of Education Issues Interpretive Rule on Accreditation

Yesterday, the Department of Education issued an interpretive rule aimed at speeding up the process by which accreditors seek and receive federal recognition. The Department of Education press release is here and coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here.

Health Care Groups Form Coalition to Fight Loan Caps

Inside Higher Ed covered the work of a newly formed coalition, of which ASAHP is a member, which is spearheading advocacy in response to proposed Department of Education rulemaking on Higher Education Act provisions stemming from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including the new student loan caps which would exclude most allied health graduate and doctoral programs from higher student loan caps.

The article by Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here.

Journal of Allied Health Seeks Editor-in-Chief

The Journal of Allied Health (JAH), the official scholarly publication of the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP), seeks an Editor-in-Chief. The candidate will transition into this role to ensure the long-term continuity of the Journal, working closely with the current Editor-in-Chief, while he transitions to Editor-in-Chief Emeritus role.

Read the job description and apply here.

ACE to Host Capitol Hill Briefing on Professional Degree Students and Their Lack of Access to Federal Student Aid

On Tuesday, February 10, at 3pm Eastern, the American Council on Education (ACE), of which ASAHP is a member, will host a Capitol Hill briefing for congressional staff and interested parties titled, “Professional Degree Students and Their Lack of Access to Federal Student Aid”. Jessica Blake of Inside Higher Ed will moderate a panel featuring Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and others.

More details are here. ACE put out a two-page document here with background and talking points on the issue.