AMTA Government Relations Update 3-29-2025
DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE:
On March 27, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced “a dramatic restructuring in accordance with President Trump's Executive Order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.”
Within this plan is an initiative to “reorganize” the Administration for Community Living (ACL), which has the potential to negatively impact music therapy clients. This important federal agency
“…was created around the fundamental principle that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities. By funding services and supports provided primarily by networks of community-based organizations, and with investments in research, education, and innovation, ACL helps make this principle a reality for millions of Americans.”
Retrieved 3/27/25 https://acl.gov/
HHS plans to integrate “critical” (not yet identified) ACL programs into other agencies within HHS. These include the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) (which is being moved into a new “Office of Strategy”), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
HHS has posted a Fact Sheet outlining this “Transformation to Make America Healthy Again”
WHAT ADVOCACY HAS OCCURRED:
AMTA is monitoring this new development and participating in national coalitions to implement recommended advocacy strategies. As part of AMTA’s involvement with partner organizations, we intend to join “sign-on” letters that amplify our voice, communicating to the administration and Congress our support for maintaining the ACL and the vital programs it administers.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Take time to learn more about what the ACL does for music therapy clients. Understanding the many benefits this agency provides for older adults and individuals with disabilities will assist you in your advocacy efforts. As an example, the United States Code has listed music therapy as a disease prevention and health promotion service and as a supportive service under Title 42: The Public Health and Welfare; Chapter 35: Programs for Older Americans (Older Americans Act-OAA) for over 30 years. This inclusion has improved access to music therapy for older adults in multiple clinical and community settings and is facilitated by the ACL.
We recommend reviewing the current ACL website, before existing content is removed.
Back
8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1000 | Silver Spring MD 20910 | Phone: 301.589.3300 | Fax: 301.589.5175