ARLINGTON, Va., July 16, 2025 – Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander and National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) Executive Director Bob Blancato today issued the following statement regarding recent staff reductions at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including within the Administration for Community Living (ACL):
The recent termination of experienced leaders and staff at HHS and ACL — and the resulting loss of institutional knowledge and expertise — comes at a crucial time for older adults and the Aging Network nationwide. Several ACL offices have been nearly or fully eliminated, including the budget and grants team, the policy and evaluations teams, all regional administrators and the majority of the communications team. It is particularly disconcerting that the timing coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Older Americans Act (OAA), which has been a lifeline for millions of our nation’s seniors, enabling them to live with dignity and independence in their own homes and communities.
As organizations dedicated to supporting older adults and those who serve them, our shared priority is to protect uninterrupted access to these essential services to ensure that our rapidly growing aging population can obtain the resources and support they need to maintain their health and well-being. While we are closely monitoring how these changes may affect the distribution of future funding and the availability of other vital ACL functions, we are reassured that OAA fiscal year 2025 allocations have already been released to states, territories and tribal nations.
Together, we stand ready to support ACL’s remaining staff during this transition and are committed to working with the administration to ensure older adults across the country continue to receive the care they need and deserve.
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ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. Through funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information or to get involved in advocacy efforts, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
Press Contact: press@mealsonwheelsamerica.org
ABOUT NANASP
Founded in 1977, the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) is proud to be a leading organization advocating for policies and programs nourishing older adults. Our 1,000 member programs represent a wide range of essential services providers who support the nutrition, health and life quality of over 4 million older adults. For more information, go to nanasp.org.
Press Contact: lborth@nanasp.org
