Trump to unveil ‘skinny’ federal budget plan

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is expected to release a preliminary federal budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year on May 2, Bloomberg Government reported.

The “skinny” budget will outline the administration’s key spending and cost-cutting priorities, including significant reductions across science, healthcare, and social programs.

According to early details, funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would be reduced from $9.2 billion to $5.2 billion, while the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would see a cut from $47 billion to $27 billion. Other agencies affected include NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Proposed cuts also target Medicaid, food assistance, education, and housing programs. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would face deep reductions, including a reform of the housing voucher system that could reduce the number of beneficiaries.

More than $9 billion in previously approved cultural and media funding would be eliminated, affecting institutions such as PBS and NPR.

Democratic lawmakers have denounced the proposal. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Cory Booker held a 12-hour protest outside the Capitol, calling the cuts “morally unacceptable” and harmful to vulnerable populations.

At the same time, the Trump administration plans to extend the 2017 tax cuts.

The full budget is expected in mid-May, after which congressional deliberations will begin.