HHS Cuts $12 Billion in Public Health Grants, States Warn of Fallout

Government and state officials say the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken back $12 billion in government health grants given out during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money helped important programs track and control contagious diseases like measles and bird flu. It also paid for mental health services and drug treatment. The choice has been harshly criticized by public health experts and politicians in the state.

In Lubbock, Texas, health workers were told to stop working on three grants that were paying for the response to an ongoing measles outbreak. Katherine Wells, the city's health director, confirmed this. Programs all over the country are also being affected by the cuts. For example, Washington state lost over $160 million in funds to its health department, Native American tribes, and other groups.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago," the HHS said to explain its choice.

But U.S. Senator Patty Murray spoke out against it and asked the government to bring back the money. She said that the cuts would hurt the fight against deadly diseases, put over 200 jobs at risk, and harm public health.

Since taking office, Trump's government has worked hard to cut costs and has shut down several public health programs. Experts are worried about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now in charge of the government health department and doesn't like vaccines.