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Executive Branch Engagement

Blueprint of Public Policy Priorities for the 119th Congress, 2025-2026

Decorative Blue Bar

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) will actively engage with the executive branch to ensure social work priorities are integrated into the federal agenda. By partnering with key federal agencies and leveraging executive orders, we aim to advance policies and programs that empower social workers, improve access to services, and address systemic inequities. Collaborations with federal agencies provide a critical avenue for embedding social work values into federal programs and initiatives. To promote these types of collaborations, NASW will:

  • With the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), advocate for increased funding and support for mental health services, workforce development programs, and innovative approaches to address the social determinants of health
  • With the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), partner on initiatives that expand affordable housing, prevent homelessness, and integrate social workers into housing stability programs
  • With the Department of Education (DOE), fight for the preservation of the Department and champion policies that enhance school-based mental health services, address student well-being and promote equity in educational outcomes through social work interventions

Leveraging Executive Orders to Advance Social Work Goals

Executive orders offer an opportunity to make significant policy advancements. NASW will:

  • Advocate for executive orders that prioritize equity in service delivery, including mandates to address disparities in mental health care and social services
  • Promote the inclusion of social workers in federal advisory councils, task forces, and pilot programs that shape national policy
  • Work with the administration to develop directives that enhance funding and resources for the social work profession, such as expanding loan forgiveness programs and workforce retention incentives
  • Push for executive action addressing systemic challenges such as child welfare reform, racial and economic equity, and climate justice—areas where social work expertise is essential

By forging strategic partnerships with federal agencies and leveraging the executive branch's policymaking tools, NASW will amplify the profession's impact and advance its mission to achieve social justice and equity for all. These efforts will solidify social workers' role as indispensable partners in crafting solutions to the nation’s most pressing challenges.