Congress Fails to Come to a Funding Agreement, Government Shuts Down 

Congress has failed to reach an agreement to fund the government, resulting in a government shutdown beginning October 1. As a result, HHS is now operating under a contingency staffing plan with a sharply reduced workforce, furloughing approximately 41% of its nearly 80,000 employees. This staff reduction further strains the agency’s ability to manage and coordinate public health initiatives. 

While certain “essential” activities, such as Medicaid payments and outbreak monitoring at CDC, will continue, many federally-supported maternal and child health (MCH) programs now face immediate interruptions, delays, and uncertainty. Title V oversight, first-quarter MCH Block Grant awards, and key CDC maternal and infant health activities are examples of activities paused for the duration of the shutdown. 



The shutdown has immediate and significant consequences for MCH programs, providers, and families nationwide.

Explore AMCHP's Federal Policy Agenda

AMCHP’s Federal Policy Agenda for the 119th Congress reaffirms our commitment to advancing strong federal policies and programs that improve the health of women, children, families, and communities. 

AMCHP will continue to play a leadership role by advancing policies that: 

• Robustly fund MCH programs: Calling for $1 billion for the Health Resources & Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant, along with support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Safe Motherhood Portfolio, HRSA’s Healthy Start Program, and other vital initiatives. 

• Prevent and respond to MCH concerns: Promoting efforts to improve maternal and infant health, reduce gaps in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, and address emerging MCH issues. 

• Support AMCHP members: Serving as our members’ eyes, ears, and voice in Washington, DC, and lifting up their stories to ensure their needs and experiences are reflected in federal policy. 

Explore the full agenda, and stay engaged by signing up for our Policy Digest and Policy Alerts and joining our monthly Policy and Partnership Town Halls for the latest federal MCH policy updates. 

Congress

• House Committee on Appropriations: HOUSE PASSES H.R. 5371, THE CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND EXTENSIONS ACT, 2026 (On September 19, the House passed H.R.5371, the Republican-introduced version of a continuing resolution, with 217 Yeas and 212 Nays. The bill was immediately considered in the Senate the same afternoon, but failed by a vote of 44 Yeas and 48 Nays, preventing its passage into law) 

• NBC News: Senate rejects both parties' bills to avoid a shutdown, leaving next steps uncertain (On September 19, the Senate voted on two competing continuing resolution proposals: H.R. 5371, referenced above, and S.2882, a Democratic-introduced proposal. The latter also failed passage with a vote of 47 Yeas and 45 Nays) 

Executive Branch

• Department of Health and Human Services: HHS Expands MAHA to Head Start Adding $61.9 Million to Nutrition Services for Children and Families 

• Department of Health and Human Services: President Trump, Secretary Kennedy Announce Bold Actions to Tackle Autism Epidemic 

• Department of Health and Human Services: ACIP Recommends Standalone Chickenpox Vaccination in Toddlers 

• Food and Drug Administration: FDA Authorizes Marketing of First Eyeglass Lenses to Slow Progression of Pediatric Myopia 

• Department of Agriculture: Secretary Rollins Strengthens SNAP Retailer Stocking Requirements to Make America Healthy Again 

• National Institutes of Health: NIH launches consortium to reduce risk of stillbirth in the U.S. 

• The Hill: Federal layoffs day or two away, budget director tells Republicans on shutdown call 

Judicial Branch

• KFF: State and Federal Reproductive Rights and Abortion Litigation Tracker 

• Reuters: Trump administration cannot proceed with overhaul of US health agencies, court rules 

• ABC: Planned Parenthood's Medicaid funding can be blocked for now, appeals court rules 

• WBMA: New Alabama law aims to improve maternal health outcomes 

• Virginia Mercury: Federal funding for research to prevent maternal deaths in Va., nationwide set to expire Sept. 30 

• Contemporary Pediatrics: Decline in maternal smoking linked to fewer cases of gastroschisis in US newborns 

• News Wise: Maternal Childhood Trauma May Increase Risk of Preterm Birth 

Upcoming Events

• October 9, 2 PM ET – AMCHP Policy and Partnerships Town Hall, join our Policy and Government Affairs Team to learn about the latest updates in federal maternal and child health policy. Learn more and register. 

• October 17, 12 PM ET – Food Policy Opportunities to Build a Healthier America, a virtual conversation held by the University of Pennsylvania Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (Penn LDI) to examine what policies are most likely to lead to health improvements and how governments can design effective food policies that support better health outcomes. Learn more and register. 

• November 18 – 21 – GIH Health Policy Exchange 2025, an annual conference that provides policy-engaged funders with information on current issues, access to leading thinkers, and connections with grantmaking peers. Learn more and register.  

• January 22 – 23 – Families USA’s Health Action Conference 2026, an annual conference to bring together health advocates nationwide. Learn more and register.  

• February 8 – 11 – American Hospital Association Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, an annual conference with top rural practitioners sharing actionable strategies and resources aimed at improving access to care, leveraging unique workforce approaches and implementing digital technologies. Learn more and register. Learn more and register.  

• March 7 – 10, 2026 – Join us for our 2026 AMCHP Annual Conference to be held in Washington, DC, and one of the largest gatherings of maternal and child health leaders and thinkers in the U.S. Early Bird Registration is now open, and proposals under any of the eight topical areas, including Policy & Impact, are being received through October 31, 2025. Learn more and register | Submit a Proposal. 

Additional AMCHP Resources

• Visit our Government Affairs webpage for information on our appropriations work, our Federal Policy Agenda, recordings of past Town Halls, and archives of this newsletter.

• Explore the AMCHP Resource Library.

• Check out our Exploring MCH Policy and the Policy Process e-learning module. 

• Learn about pending federal legislation to improve MCH from our Maternal & Child Health Bill Tracker. 

• Discover innovative policies in the MCH Innovations Database.

• Explore Careers at AMCHP.



• Share the subscribe link for this digest and other AMCHP content with your network so they can stay informed!