WASHINGTON — Proposed federal budget cuts could put nearly seven million dollars in nursing education and research funding at risk, as Congress works toward a January 30 budget deadline.
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has moved to eliminate the National Institute of Nursing Research and most Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs. Nursing leaders warn the cuts could worsen staffing shortages in Michigan, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Officials say the funding supports graduate education and helps train future nurse educators, a critical link in maintaining the nursing pipeline. Without that support, fewer instructors would be available to train new nurses, compounding existing workforce challenges.
The proposed cuts would also end federal support for nursing research, which helps guide patient care practices nationwide.
Supporters of the reductions argue the changes are needed to rein in federal spending and shift responsibility for workforce training to states, universities, and health systems.
National surveys show staffing shortages are already affecting patient care, with many nurses reporting they are responsible for too many patients at once.