The 2026 fiscal year (FY26) starts on October 1, which gives Congress until September 30 to pass funding bills. Doing so requires navigating a series of competing priorities. On the one hand is the administration's budget request, and on the other is Congress.

Policymakers are walking a fine line between what can get enough votes to pass and what the public will tolerate.

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its first FY26 budget bill. It covers a lot of aging services funding and offers a preview of how the whole process might go.

Let's dig into it.

First, let's remember what's been happening for the last 6 months:

• Federal agencies experienced significant reorganizations and reductions in personnel
• Congress and the administration have passed big cuts to programs older adults depend on
• Several programs are still waiting on the release of funds already approved for this year

This makes the content of the Senate Appropriations Committee's bill feel like a significant step in a positive direction.

You can read a detailed look at the bill's contents here, but the big takeaway is that the Senate bill keeps funding at current levels for most Older Americans Act programs, including falls prevention and chronic disease education.

It would also fund the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a welcome alternative to the cut of all SCSEP funding proposed by the administration.

This month also brought a positive sign related to Medicare. Senators Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Blunt-Rochester, D-Del., have introduced a bi-partisan bill to reauthorize and fund the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA for 5 years.

MIPPA helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries afford their Medicare plans.

This is a big win. It shows that policymakers on both sides of the aisle know MIPPA works for older Americans who need help affording the things that keep them healthy, like doctor visits and prescriptions.

Historically, the Senate has protected aging services funding in the face of cuts, but there were questions about whether that trend would continue. 

The bipartisanship that fueled the Senate's recent actions is an important signal to the rest of Capitol Hill about how the chamber wants to approach the issue of aging services in the FY26 budget.

Congress is in recess through Labor Day. Once they return, there is little time to finalize FY26 funding before the fiscal year ends. We're paying close attention and will continue to keep you updated.

Stay tuned. 

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