Washington, D.C. – The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) is grateful that Congress has passed a continuing resolution (CR) that formally ended the 43-day government shutdown and restores federal funding through January 30, 2026.
This funding package includes extensions of key healthcare and workforce programs — including funding for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program (THCGME) and the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF) through January 30, 2026.
“By providing a short-term extension for the National Health Service Corps, in addition to the Health Center Program, Teaching Health Center GME Program, and key nutrition programs, Congress has given underserved communities a little breathing room,” said ACU CEO Amanda Pears Kelly. “ACU now urges policymakers to turn this short-term relief into durable, multi-year investments in our clinician workforce.”
While this brings welcome certainty for the coming weeks, it remains a stop-gap measure. ACU looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration to fund an expanded, multi-year reauthorization of core workforce and access programs — one that strengthens and expands their effectiveness, ensures stability, and embeds the clinician workforce in underserved communities for the long term.
About ACU
The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) is a uniquely transdisciplinary membership organization striving to establish a robust, multifaceted workforce to help transform communities to increase access to quality health care for all. Founded in 1996 by participants in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), ACU is the foremost advocate for the NHSC and leads advocacy, clinical, operational, and other areas of excellence, and supports the health care workforce caring for America’s under-resourced populations. To learn more about ACU, visit www.clinicians.org.
