A group of 22 U.S. senators, led by Kirsten Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders, Ron Wyden, and Tammy Baldwin, is demanding that the Department of Health and Human Services halt its plan to dismantle the Administration for Community Living (ACL)—a federal agency that helps seniors and people with disabilities live independently.
The lawmakers criticized the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate over half of ACL’s staff and scatter its programs across various federal departments. They warned the move would disrupt vital services for tens of millions of Americans.
ACL helps seniors live at home, not in institutions
Created in 2012, the ACL provides programs like:
- Home-delivered and congregate meals
- Medicare enrollment assistance
- Support for family caregivers
- Community living and disability services
“These services save money by helping people stay in their homes,” the senators wrote. “It costs less to feed a senior for a year than to hospitalize them for one night.”
Senators warn of nationwide harm
If the plan proceeds, lawmakers say the results will be severe:
- Over 220 million meals at risk, leaving seniors hungry
- 53 million caregivers without support, forcing many to leave the workforce
- Disruption to disability programs, research, and protective services
- Shutdown of grants and aid to local community organizations
The senators called the move “illegal” and “shortsighted,” saying it violates the FY 2025 appropriations law, which fully funded ACL’s programs.
Demand for answers from HHS
The letter, addressed to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., includes a detailed list of questions demanding transparency, including:
- How many ACL staff have been fired?
- What happens to the statutory roles required by law?
- Which agencies will take over ACL programs—and why?
- Was there any consultation with caregivers, seniors, or disability advocates?
The senators say the plan was rolled out with no clear explanation of how services will be maintained, raising fears of chaos and delays.
Bipartisan programs at risk
Programs supported by both parties—such as the Older Americans Act nutrition services and independent living resources—are among those facing cuts or elimination. Lawmakers say these services are essential to preventing abuse, neglect, and isolation.
“The ACL was created to improve coordination,” the senators wrote. “Dismantling it will do the opposite.”
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