A federal judge is temporarily blocking cuts to local health funding by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., including already promised millions slashed from Columbus Public Health.
In March, the federal government pulled back $11.4 billion in promised funding for state, county and local health departments given out in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for tracking, treating and preventing infectious diseases. Federal officials cited the COVID-19 pandemic being "over" as the reason for eliminating the grants.
That included slashing $250 million for childhood vaccination programs at the Ohio Department of Health and $3 million of $6 million ingrants to Columbus Public Health, resulting in the termination of 11 infectious disease investigators.
“This decision allows local health departments to be able to do their jobs to respond to infectious disease outbreaks and prevent needless deaths of children and our most vulnerable,” Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said in a prepared release. The city of Columbus sued the Trump administration over the cuts in April.
“We will continue to urge the court to make this injunction permanent, and send a message to Washington that cities will not back down as this administration recklessly defies Congress, ignores the rule of law, and endangers the health and safety of children and families in Ohio and across the nation," Klein said in the release. --->READ MORE HERE
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| AP Photo/David J. Phillip |
In March, the Trump administration clawed back more than $11 billion in public health funding that had been distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Harris County and other local governments from across the country subsequently sued.
A federal judge has sided with Harris County and other local governments from across the country to restore public health funding terminated earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The ruling, issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper, ordered the restoration of nearly $20 million in federal funding to Harris County. According to the Harris County Attorney’s Office, the funds are essential to several Harris County Public Health programs, including its wastewater surveillance efforts and a program that assists low-income residents with healthcare and food.
"This ruling is a win for Harris County residents and public health departments across the county," acting Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said in a statement. "The federal government cannot simply ignore Congress and pull the plug on essential services that communities rely on. Today's decision ensures we can keep doing the work that protects our residents."
In March, the Trump administration clawed back more than $11 billion in public health funding that had been distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harris County sued HHS a week later, arguing it would lose more than $19 million in funding and that the funds were not limited to the duration of the pandemic. The county joined other plaintiffs in the case, including local governments from Kansas City, Nashville and Columbus, Ohio. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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