President Donald Trump announced a $275 million federal and state initiative on Friday to recruit and retain nurses in nursing homes across the United States. Speaking to a midterm election crowd at Alico Arena on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus in Fort Myers, Florida, Trump described the effort as breaking news aimed at supporting American seniors.
Titled the Nurses for Nursing Homes program, the initiative is expected to support more than 4,000 nurses nationwide. The program is a joint effort backed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Under the terms of the program, eligible participants may receive up to $40,000 in student-loan repayment or a $10,000 stipend. In exchange, participating nurses must commit to a three-year service agreement working an average of at least 30 hours per week at a qualifying nursing home.
Funding for the $275 million program does not rely on taxpayer dollars. Instead, the initiative is financed through civil monetary penalties collected by CMS and participating state agencies from nursing homes. CMS has committed $100 million to the fund, while state contributions total at least $175 million.
The program specifically targets rural communities and regions facing acute labor shortages. According to CMS, all 50 states and the District of Columbia are participating in the rollout. Every rural nursing facility in the country is eligible to take part, alongside additional elder-care facilities located in high-need areas.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who joined the president on stage in Fort Myers, emphasized the program’s dual impact on workforce development and patient care. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz noted that the student loan assistance provides vital financial relief to nurses and nursing students while fostering stability and deep bonds between residents and long-term caregivers.
To qualify for the program, applicants must hold an active license as a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, or a vocational nurse, and must be employed at a qualifying Medicare or Medicaid-certified long-term-care facility. Nursing students are permitted to begin the application process prior to graduation, provided they secure graduation, licensure, and qualifying employment before receiving financial benefits.
The rollout comes as elder-care facilities nationwide continue to grapple with persistent staffing deficits, particularly outside major metropolitan centers. Applications for the Nurses for Nursing Homes program open on Oct. 26 and will be processed through the official federal portal at NursesforNursingHomes.cms.gov.
