On April 16, 2025, the Federal Office of Management and Budget released a 64-page draft budget proposal that has prompted concern among some advocates for older adults and people with disabilities.
Among the provisions attracting attention is a proposal to eliminate the Administration for Community Living (ACL), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that focuses on supporting independence and community living.
At its core, this proposal represents more than a structural reorganization. It signals a potential redefinition of the federal government’s role in advancing inclusion, independence, and civil rights protections for millions.
Understanding the ACL’s Role
The Administration for Community Living (ACL), was created to consolidate federal programs that assist older adults and individuals with disabilities. Its mission is to support the development of policies and the delivery of services that enable people to live independently, remain engaged in their communities, and access non-institutional care options whenever possible. Programs administered by the ACL include:
- University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), which provided services, training, and research to support over 1.3 million people in the last year alone.
- Developmental Disabilities Councils (DD Councils), which supported more than 900 state-led initiatives focused on improving access to education, employment, and housing, while also fostering public involvement and encouraging active participation in the community.
- Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As), which protected the civil rights of 11.5 million people through legal advocacy, investigations, and public education.
These programs do not operate in isolation; together, they create a network of support that reaches into schools, hospitals, workplaces, housing, and family care-giving systems across the country.
Broader Context: Additional Federal Program Changes
The proposed elimination of the ACL does not exist in a vacuum. It comes alongside other proposed budgetary reductions that could disproportionately affect older adults and people with disabilities:
- Medicaid Cuts: A proposed $880 billion reduction to Medicaid would have major implications for long-term care. Medicaid currently funds care for 63% of nursing home residents and 20% of those in assisted living. Cuts of this magnitude could lead to facility closures, reduced access, and fewer home- and community-based service options.
- Meals on Wheels and Nutrition Programs: Reductions to funding streams such as the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), Medicaid, and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) could limit the reach of Meals on Wheels and similar programs, which provide essential nutrition and social contact to over 2 million older adults annually.
- Affordable Housing Supports: Proposed reductions to HUD programs and staffing could strain the infrastructure that supports older adults and people with disabilities in maintaining independent housing. Without accessible and affordable housing, the risk of unnecessary institutionalization or homelessness increases sharply.
These simultaneous proposals raise broader concerns about their potential combined impact. There is growing uncertainty about whether they could make it more difficult for communities to support full inclusion, promote self-determination—the opportunity for people to have a say in decisions that affect their lives—and protect the well-being of those who may need the most support.
Supporting Inclusion Through the ACL and Similar Programs
As advocates have emphasized, inclusion is not an ancillary benefit. Inclusion isn’t charity — it is about community. The concept reflects a shared belief that everyone, regardless of age or disability, should have the opportunity to belong, contribute, and thrive.
ACL programs are one of the federal government’s tools for helping ensure that inclusion is intentional and widespread. The programs support efforts that allow a student with a disability to participate in public education, a person recovering from a brain injury to access job training, or an older adult to receive caregiver support at home rather than move into a care facility.
Eliminating ACL would not make these needs disappear. It would simply make them harder to meet, increasing the burden on states, families, and already stretched local service systems.
A Historical Perspective
ACL was created through years of bipartisan efforts aimed at protecting the rights of people with disabilities and improving their day-to-day lives. A major step in this work was the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1975, which laid the foundation for many of the programs the ACL runs today.
Building on this legislative milestone, these programs were specifically designed to address the persistent challenges of exclusion and segregation experienced by individuals with developmental and other disabilities. They strive to foster inclusion and promote dignity and respect, while also working to expand access to education, employment, and a broad range of opportunities that enable participation in community life.
In 2012, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) was established to streamline and unify related programs—an effort to enhance efficiency and accountability while reinforcing the principle that older adults and people with disabilities should have a voice in shaping the policies that impact their lives.
The current proposal would represent a sharp departure from that legacy — and from a long-standing bipartisan commitment to locally driven, inclusive approaches.
Beyond Budgets: A Conversation About Values
Policy decisions are never just about dollars and cents—they are also about values. They reveal who and what we choose to prioritize. As Wiley’s Walk reminds its readers, true access and inclusion aren’t measured solely in budget lines or policy documents.
They are reflected in daily life: Can people of all ages and abilities navigate schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods with confidence and dignity? Are our communities intentionally designed to welcome everyone, or do they, even unintentionally, leave some behind?
The proposed elimination of the ACL cannot be viewed in isolation. While framed as a structural or fiscal decision, it raises broader questions about our shared responsibilities. The programs at risk help shape whether a student is supported at school, whether an older adult can remain in their home, and whether someone navigating a new disability can continue to participate fully in community life. These are not just policy points — they are personal realities.
Inclusion depends not only on the individual, but also on the systems and supports that surround and influence them. Flexible programs that remove barriers and service providers who adapt to diverse needs can make a profound difference in people’s lives. These improvements don’t happen by chance—they result from intentional choices, sustained investment, and a deep belief in the value of every person.
Programs supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) help make this possible. They promote not just access, but meaningful involvement—supporting people of all abilities and ages in engaging with and contributing to their communities. Without these programs, the responsibility for care and coordination often falls to individual families, local nonprofits, and already stretched service networks, making inclusion harder instead of easier.
The Urban Institute has warned that dismantling these supports could ‘undercut community-based systems of support, and potentially reverse decades of progress.’ Just as importantly, it could shift the national conversation away from a focus on belonging and interdependence—resulting in a loss not only for people with disabilities and older adults, but for everyone.
This moment calls for reflection: What defines a strong and inclusive community? What ensures that every person feels they belong? What role can public policy play in shaping that future?
A Call to Center People in Policy
Stakeholders across the political spectrum are urging Congress to reject the elimination of the ACL and the programs it funds and oversees. These stakeholders include disability organizations, advocates for older adults, healthcare professionals, and families.
Advocates are united in calling for the preservation of the ACL’s mission. This is not just about keeping an agency in place. It is about preserving what the agency represents—a belief in treating people with respect, ensuring fair access to opportunity, and fostering inclusive, supportive communities.
As policy discussions move forward, it’s essential to focus on the people behind the programs. These aren’t just budget lines—they represent support that individuals and families depend on every day.
Eliminating the ACL would signal a major shift in national priorities. While fiscal debates are expected, decisions about disability and aging services reflect deeper values: promoting independence, inclusion, and recognizing each person’s value.
The proposed elimination of the Administration for Community Living is more than a budget decision — it raises broader questions about national priorities. The ACL supports programs that enable older adults and people with disabilities to live independently, remain connected, and participate fully in community life.
Without these supports, meeting those needs could become more challenging, increasing pressure on families, local organizations, and service systems. This shift could slow progress toward greater inclusion and access. As discussions move forward, it remains essential to keep people at the center — and to consider whether policies reflect a commitment to dignity, opportunity, and meaningful support. Now is the time to reaffirm a focus on inclusion — not just in words, but through deliberate, person-centered policy.
References
- Urban Institute. (2025, April 7). Sweeping HHS cuts will put disabled and older Americans’ right to live in their communities at risk. https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/sweeping-hhs-cuts-will-put-disabled-and-older-americans-right-live-their-communities
- National Disability Rights Network. (2025, April 24). Disability network warns: Eliminating ACL will endanger lives, erode rights, and collapse community supports for 1 in 4 Americans. https://www.ndrn.org/resource/eliminating-acl-will-endanger-lives/:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
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