WASHINGTON — Federal officials have paused more than 100 grants totaling over $5 billion awarded to states to bolster their public health infrastructure.
States and organizations that had gotten funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s public health infrastructure grant received notices on Friday telling them that the money had been put on hold while the department reviews its uses to “ensure alignment with administration and agency priorities,” per screenshots of the notices shared with STAT.
The Trump administration has put heightened scrutiny in the past year on health care grants, canceling some believed to be related to diversity, equity and inclusion or counter to the White House’s agenda. Just this week, the Office of Management and Budget reportedly requested all federal agencies compile a detailed list of how much money each provides to certain states led by Democrats. That memo, however, called the request a data-collection exercise, aimed at reducing fraud, and does not involve withholding funds.
“The Public Health Infrastructure Grants were temporarily paused so HHS could implement a new review process, one that will ensure funds are used for their intended purposes. HHS will continue to protect taxpayer money and ensure they are used for legitimate purposes,” HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon told STAT in a statement.
The five-year grant program serves all 50 states and the District of Columbia as well as three organizations that support public health departments, representing 107 departments across the country. The program started in late 2022 with additional allocations sent to recipients each December, meaning most grantees received updated funding last month.
According to a CDC fact sheet, recipients have used the money to modernize their mental health scheduling systems to streamline appointments, bolstered their health surveillance systems, and standardized hiring processes for community health workers.
