From DC: Homelessness Funding at Risk, HHS Trans Rights Rollback, Health Care Votes Delayed

December 19, 2025

From DC is Justice in Aging's weekly roundup of national news and resources about issues impacting older adults. To receive From DC in your inbox as soon as its published, sign up for our mailing list.

Here’s what we’re watching in Washington:

Bipartisan Coalition of 180+ Mayors Calls on Congress to Protect Homelessness Funding

Last week, over 180 Democratic, Republican, and Independent mayors sent a letter to Congress urging members to renew current Continuum of Care (CoC) homeless assistance grants for another year.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking to upend the CoC program in 2026 by slashing funds for permanent supportive housing (PSH) and enacting other sweeping changes around homelessness funding. By renewing current CoC grants, Congress can delay harmful changes and ensure stability in the CoC program next year.

In the letter, the bipartisan coalition of mayors warns that HUD’s plan would “cause havoc locally for homelessness programs.” The coalition also highlights how HUD’s cuts to PSH and other permanent housing would “withhold critical assistance for at least 170,000 formerly homeless older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, and families with children, forcing them back on the street after finally achieving housing stability.”

HUD’s cuts to PSH would disproportionately harm older adults, who are the fastest-growing group among people experiencing homelessness.

HHS Proposes Rollback of Transgender Civil Rights Protections

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a proposed rule to amend regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The proposed rule would limit federal civil rights protections for individuals with gender dysphoria and impose barriers to enforcing their rights under Section 504.

The proposed rule has a 30-day comment period. Justice in Aging joined partners in condemning the proposed rule, as well as anti-trans actions by HHS and this administration.

In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed two rules that would cut federal funding and Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care for minors and make it much more difficult for any youth to access essential transition-related health care.

Although these proposals pertain to care for minors, they may make access more difficult for older adults as well. Both proposed rules have 60-day comment periods.

Justice in Aging is analyzing all of these proposals and their potential impact on older adults. We will provide our network with updates.

Congress Kicks Health Care Votes to Next Year

Congress is set to leave D.C. without extending the Affordable Care Act Marketplace enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) before they expire on December 31. However, the House of Representatives will vote in January on a proposal to extend the ePTCs for three years.

Earlier this week, four House Republicans signed a discharge petition led by Minority Leader Jeffries, forcing the vote. The possible extension continues to face an uphill battle in the Senate, which voted down a similar extension last week.

Other health care programs and policies are set to expire when the continuing resolution that reopened the government expires on January 30. These include Medicare telehealth provisions and funding for outreach and enrollment assistance for low-income Medicare enrollees.

Justice in Aging joined a letter urging Congress to pass the Senior Savings Protection Act (S. 2466/H.R. 6210), which would provide a five-year extension of the low-income outreach funding first authorized in the 2008 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA).