The proposed funding cuts could severely affect health care access in underserved communities, where shortages of medical professionals are already critical. Nursing programs, in particular, may struggle to train and retain new professionals, potentially leading to long-term workforce gaps. The reductions could also hinder efforts to address disparities in health care access and outcomes, especially for low-income and rural populations. Experts warn that the cuts may reverse progress made in addressing provider shortages over the past decades.