Major nursing organizations are protesting President Bush's $46 million cut to Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development and Education Programs in his fiscal 2009 federal budget proposal. The President proposed a similar reduction in last year's budget, but Congress boosted the final funding level after nursing supporters campaigned to have the money restored. Among the groups that have objected to the President's recent proposal are the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, and the ANA, all of which described the 30% cut as "alarming."

Title VIII funds education programs, recruitment of new nurses into the profession, and promotes career advancement. Visit ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/about/budgetjustification09.pdf for further information on the Bush Administration's justification for the budget proposal.