Tell the DC Council: Seniors deserve their fair share of the pie

DC Seniors Deserve a Fair Share of the Pie

District seniors have contributed to our communities for decades —now it’s time for the DC Council to stand up for them!

AARP is deeply concerned about proposed reductions to programs and lifelines for seniors and their families in the FY2026 budget. Everything from caregiving, to transportation and housing face cuts.

These aren’t just numbers, they represent real people, real services, and real consequences. Seniors deserve more than just a slice — they deserve their fair share of the pie.

Join us today to tell the DC Council these cuts are unacceptable. They must work to ensure the programs and resources District seniors need to stay safely in their homes, avoid costlier institutional care, and build an Age-Friendly DC are fully funded in the FY2026 budget.

Seniors deserve more than just a slice — they deserve their fair share of the pie.

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Your Message

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Dear Decision Maker,

Message Body

As your constituent and a concerned District resident, I am writing to urge you to protect and restore critical funding for aging services in the FY2026 budget. I am deeply concerned about the proposed reductions to essential programs that support the health, independence, and dignity of our senior population.

These proposed cuts include a $1.2 million reduction to caregiving services, a $517,000 cut to senior transportation, a $170,000 reduction to Senior Wellness Centers, a $21.9 million cut to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), and a proposal to reduce Paid Family Leave for government employees from 80 to 20 hours. I also urge you to fully fund the Certified Nurses Aide Amendment Act of 2024 and to restore the Access to Justice Grant Program by allocating $32 million in FY2026, reversing the $21.1 million cut. These programs are not optional — they are lifelines for thousands of older adults and their families across the District.

While I appreciate the proposed increases of $302,000 for community dining and $930,000 for home-delivered meals, these gains are not enough to offset the harm that would result from the proposed cuts. In a city where 11% of older households face food insecurity and 17% of residents aged 45 and older rarely eat a nutritious meal weekly, these services are vital.

Cuts to caregiving alone would impact 74,000 unpaid family caregivers who provide 69 million hours of care annually, valued at $1.37 billion. Cuts to ERAP and Legal services are unacceptable when there are thousands of vulnerable seniors relying on these supports.

I respectfully ask that you stand with DC seniors and ensure the FY2026 budget reflects their needs and contributions. These aren’t just numbers — they represent real people, real services, and real consequences. Seniors deserve more than just a slice — they deserve their fair share of the pie.

Thank you for your leadership and for your commitment to our community.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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