Trump administration to cut $11.4 billion in COVID funding from local health departments
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the termination of $11.4 billion in COVID-19-related funds for state and local public health departments. This funding was primarily used for COVID-19 testing, virus research, and community health initiatives. According to federal health officials, the decision to cut these funds comes as the COVID-19 pandemic is deemed to be over.
Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor, expressed concern over the impact of these cuts on essential public health programs. She highlighted the role of wastewater surveillance in detecting infectious diseases like measles, emphasizing the importance of early warning systems in preventing outbreaks.
The abrupt termination of funding has raised alarm among health officials across the country. Lori Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, criticized the decision as “cruel and unusual behavior,” especially considering that the funding was set to end in the next six months anyway.
States like Minnesota and California have been directly affected by the funding cuts, with health departments losing millions of dollars in grants. Dr. Brooke Cunningham of the Minnesota Department of Health described the termination as sudden and unexpected, causing chaos and uncertainty in ongoing public health efforts.
In response to the funding cuts, California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Erica Pan emphasized the critical role of public health infrastructure in protecting communities from infectious diseases and health emergencies. She expressed commitment to seeking resources to support vital public health initiatives.
The impact of these funding cuts extends beyond public health departments, as more than two dozen COVID-related research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health have also been canceled. Additionally, the Trump administration recently shut down ordering from covidtest.gov, a platform that provided free COVID-19 tests to Americans.
Despite the end of the federal public health emergency for COVID-19, the virus continues to pose a threat, with an average of 458 deaths per week in the past month. The Department of Health and Human Services has not provided detailed information on how the funds will be recovered from affected recipients, but it has confirmed that the $11.4 billion is undisbursed funds.
The decision to cut COVID-19-related funds raises concerns about the future of public health initiatives and response efforts. As the nation continues to grapple with the ongoing impact of the pandemic, the importance of sustained funding for public health programs remains paramount.
