OME Advocate Newsletter

The U.S Department of Education (ED)'s Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking committee reached consensus on a sweeping package of proposed accreditation reforms, clearing the way for ED to draft formal regulations for public comment. The proposals would significantly reshape federal oversight of higher education accreditation by easing pathways for new accreditors and expanding responsibilities related to institutional policies on diversity, civil rights and research. The final proposal also requires programmatic accreditors to separate from affiliated professional associations and trade organizations.

ED plans to publish final regulations by November 2026, with implementation targeted for July 2027. While the consensus vote marks a major milestone in the rulemaking process, higher education leaders expect the proposals to face continued scrutiny and potential legal challenges as the process moves forward. For more information, read AACOM’s summary of session two and the consensus package.

Join AACOM for a one-hour moderated webinar highlighting how colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) are advancing nutrition education within undergraduate medical education on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET.

Attendees will learn about exciting and ground-breaking approaches to nutrition education at COMs from a panel of academic leaders. This discussion will provide a platform for schools to share practical strategies, innovations and lessons learned by integrating nutrition into medical training.

For more information, visit AACOM’s Nutrition in Medicine webpage, a new online resource that outlines significant nutrition education policy changes and initiatives at our member colleges.

Register Today!

The House and Senate are drafting their fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills, with the House expected to begin considering the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHSE) bill on June 5, 2026. We need Members of Congress to reject the FY27 President’s Budget Request that cuts the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $6 billion and eliminates the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).

Robust federal investment in medical research fuels innovation, improves patient outcomes and advances the health of communities nationwide. NCCIH plays a vital role within NIH by supporting clinicians, researchers and the public in advancing whole-person health. Increased osteopathic research funding and greater representation within NIH programs and leadership are also essential to building a robust public health research enterprise.

Raise your voice in support of sustained NIH funding, NCCIH and increased osteopathic research.

Take Action Today!

Register today to join hundreds of fellow members of the osteopathic community in advocating for osteopathic medical education (OME) federal policy priorities during AACOM Advocacy Day. Deans, students, faculty members, osteopathic leaders and physicians are all welcome!

Scheduled for September 16–17, 2026, the event will feature live virtual sessions with Members of Congress, policy experts and AACOM’s Government Relations team. Participants will gain insight into the congressional landscape, enhance advocacy skills and advance OME priorities through coordinated engagement.

This online, virtual event will take approximately two hours each day and is open to all members of the OME community. There is no cost to participate. Further details about advocacy activities and live virtual sessions are forthcoming. Visit the Advocacy Day page for the latest updates.

Register Today!

• On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a proposed rule, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, which would revise requirements for grants, cooperative agreements and other federal financial assistance across all agencies.
• While OMB intends to strengthen transparency and oversight, the 400+ page proposal would expand political review of discretionary grants and could significantly alter the peer-review process.
• The proposal does not cap indirect research costs but may prohibit grantees from using federal funds to publish research.
• An AACOM summary is forthcoming. Interested parties are encouraged to review the proposal and submit comments by July 13, 2026.

• On May 20, 2026, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, testified during a Senate Appropriations LHHSE Subcommittee hearing on the NIH FY27 budget request, where Bhattacharya highlighted the NIH's focus on chronic disease prevention and nutrition science as central to the administration's “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
• Lawmakers raised concerns over the proposed $6 billion cut to NIH’s budget, including reductions to institutes focused on diabetes, minority health and substance use disorder research.
• Senators from rural states pressed Bhattacharya on the concentration of NIH funding, where Bhattacharya acknowledged that a third of the agency’s portfolio goes to just 20 institutions, calling it a “mistake” and committed to reforming the agency’s funding model to “[invest] in the research capacities of the whole rest of the country”.
• View AACOM’s hearing summary to learn more.