May 5, 2025 – The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) strongly opposes the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request released on Friday. The budget proposes to slash federal spending on research, science, and oral health programs, and sends a deeply troubling message about the priorities of this Administration.
The President’s budget recommends reducing funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $18 billion, a nearly 40% cut. It also slashes about $3.6 billion (-39%) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) budget, $5.2 billion (-57%) from the National Science Foundation, and $1.7 billion (-19%) from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which administers vital oral health training and workforce programs.
Such dramatic cuts to these federal agencies would fundamentally alter our nation’s ability to support biomedical research, putting our nation’s health at risk, and threaten our economy and national health security. Research conducted at NIH and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) increases our understanding of the fundamental causes of oral diseases and conditions, transforming how oral health care is delivered. It also accelerates the transfer of new knowledge and evidence into the hands of those who need it most.
The President’s proposal would also entirely eliminate CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, which includes the Division of Oral Health. The Division plays a vital role providing evidence-based guidance on oral health issues and supporting state health departments to reduce cavities and oral disease among vulnerable populations.
We are also particularly concerned about the budget’s proposed consolidation of NIH Institutes and Centers, which risks diminishing the visibility and focus on specialized research areas. Without an independent and autonomous NIDCR, there will be no federal agency dedicated to studying the distinct scientific challenges and opportunities in oral and craniofacial research. Merging its functions into a broader entity will also weaken the pipeline of dental clinician-scientists and reduce support for the communities disproportionately impacted by oral health disparities.
We urge Congress to reject this proposal and to instead work together on a bipartisan basis to create an FY 2026 budget that protects medical research and the U.S. scientific enterprise. Specifically, we ask that lawmakers provide at least $51.3 billion for the NIH, including at least $520.16 million for NIDCR while preserving it as an independent institute. In addition, we request funding levels of at least $20.25 million for CDC’s Division of Oral Health and $43.67 million for HRSA Title VII Oral Health Training Programs.
AADOCR stands ready to work with policymakers to ensure that investment in NIH and the entire research and scientific enterprise is equipped with the resources it needs so that America remains the global leader in medical innovation and continues to deliver breakthrough advances for patients across the country.
The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being. AADOCR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. AADOCR is the largest division of the International Association for Dental Research. Learn more at www.aadocr.org.
