Cuts to FY2018 Funding for National Hansen’s Disease Program Proposed
Cuts to FY2018 Funding for National Hansen’s Disease Program Proposed
On May 23, 2017, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued President Trump’s proposal for the Budget of the U.S. Government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. Supporting documents released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) indicate that, under the budget proposal, funding for the National Hansen’s Disease Program, operated by the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration, would be cut by 23% (compared to FY2017 levels). The program would receive total funding of $11.653 million in FY2018, compared to $15.169 million in FY2017.
The National Hansen’s Disease Program conducts research into, and treats patients affected by, leprosy. It has historically operated 17 clinics in 10 states but, in anticipation of the budget cuts, closed 11 clinics in six states in January 2018.
| Update: On March 22, 2018, Congress passed a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill for FY2018. Under the bill, funding for the National Hansen’s Disease Program is cut by 10% (compared to FY2017 levels), which is slightly less than had been proposed by the Trump administration. The Health Resources and Services Administration has indicated that, as Congress provided more funding that was sought by the Trump administration, it will be able to reopen eight clinics that were closed in January 2018. |
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