GWEP Funding Rollercoaster: Recent Reprieve, Future Uncertain
The Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), which trains healthcare providers to care for the elderly, has seen a rollercoaster ride in funding. After a 34% shortfall in July 2025 and a proposed elimination in the Trump administration's fiscal 2026 budget, the program has had a recent reprieve with its funding restored in both House and Senate bills.
GWEP, based at Saint Louis University, offers a wide range of training. It educates primary care doctors, specialists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers, pharmacists, direct care workers, and even patients themselves about elder care. In a bid to retain and upskill certified nursing aides (CNAs), the program offers an apprenticeship at a suburban nursing home, promising a raise upon completion. This initiative aims to reduce turnover and enhance care quality for older patients.
The program's funding has been volatile. In July 2025, grantees received $27.5 million instead of the expected $41.8 million. While the House and Senate bills have restored funding, the program's future remains uncertain. The bills could still change or be voted down, or a continuing resolution could freeze current funding.
Despite the funding fluctuations, GWEP continues to train around 70,000 healthcare professionals annually to address the gap between the growing elderly population and the number of geriatricians and knowledgeable providers. The recent funding restoration is a positive step, but the program's future depends on the final outcome of the federal health department funding bills.
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