Sweeping Cuts to Health and Human Services Signal Sharp Shift in Federal Health Priorities
The significant cuts announced by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will severely impact local health departments, nonprofits and hit a potential reduction of Medicaid spending.The Department of Health and Human Services is undergoing significant downsizing. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the department will reduce its workforce by nearly a quarter, eliminating 20,000 positions. Half of those employees accepted buyouts and early retirement, while the remaining 10,000 will be laid off. The move is expected to reduce $1.8 billion annual costs. Simultaneously, the department will consolidate from 28 divisions to 15, forming a new structure called the Administration for a Healthy America. According to the agency, the new focus will be on safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the agencies under the HHS umbrella, will return $11.4 billion in pandemic-response funds. These funds had been supporting state and local health departments, nonprofit organizations, and international partners in efforts such as Covid testing, vaccination, and health equity initiatives for underserved communities. According to NBC News, recipients have 30 days to reconcile their expenditures. While the public health emergency officially ended in May 2023, more than 1.2 million Americans have died from Covid. Hundreds of people continue to die from the virus each week, and long Covid remains a serious concern. The CDC’s rollback is part of a broader pattern. Other canceled grants include funding for research into vaccine hesitancy, LGBTQ populations, and HIV prevention programs. In addition, this fits the overall trend of reduction of federal funding of the Trump administration. According to Reuters, the reduction of past-through funds to states will disproportionately affect rural areas and the state budgets, which rely on that funding. Alaska, for instance, relies on federal funding for about half of its budget. In addition, there is growing concern over the impact these cuts may have on Medicaid. The program, which provides health coverage to millions of low-income Americans, could face further pressure, in addition to the previously reported cuts related to the new federal budget. Trevor Storrs, President and CEO of the Alaska Children’s Trust, explained the impact these would have on the community. “Any cut to Medicaid will have harmful impacts on Alaska’s children and families. Almost 250,000 Alaskans are on Medicaid, including almost 40 percent of Alaska’s children and youth. And, because of the support Medicaid provides to hospitals and clinics, Medicaid plays a critical role in health care for all Alaskans, not just those that qualify for Medicaid coverage.” |