The US Department of Health and Human Services is preparing to cut roughly $600 million in public health grant funding to four Democrat-led states.
ISTANBUL: The US Department of Health and Human Services is preparing to cut roughly $600 million in public health grant funding to four Democrat-led states.
According to a list of planned reductions reviewed by The New York Times, HHS will begin terminating grant awards to California, Minnesota, Illinois and Colorado.
This marks a significant reduction in federal public health support as the agency redirects funding toward programmes aligned with the current administration’s policy goals.
An HHS spokesperson said the grants being terminated no longer reflect the policy priorities of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The funding was established under a Biden-era initiative and has supported more than 100 local and state public health departments over five years.
The Public Health Infrastructure Grants were designed to support efforts through the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
These included data modernisation initiatives and health equity programs.
Earlier reporting indicated the planned cancellations include funding for HIV and other sexually transmitted infection prevention programmes.
The move follows a brief nationwide pause last month on about $5 billion in Public Health Infrastructure Grants.
That decision was quickly reversed after concerns were raised about emergency preparedness ahead of severe winter weather.
The department did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
