John,

Last week, the Trump administration abruptly ended almost $12 billion in Health and Human Services funding to the states. This funding was critical to funding programs targeting infectious diseases, substance use issues, and mental health services. The money was also intended to help update health systems that had been severely underfunded for years.¹

This move is part of the Trump administration's war on “rooting out waste”, but is instead gutting the programs and agencies that keep us safe, such as funding for the livesaving 988 national suicide prevention hotline.² In addition, in large federal staff layoffs announced last week, HHS Secretary Kennedy proposed a 50% cut to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s staff on top of a 10% cut in February, “making it virtually impossible to meet the urgent challenges posed by these crises.”³

The money that Trump just canceled was approved by Congress as part of COVID-19 aid, meaning only Congress has the authority to cancel it. Send a direct message to Congress demanding they assert their authority and take back the power of the purse.

Senator Patty Murray issued a statement:⁴

"Senselessly ripping away this funding Congress provided will undermine our state's ability to protect families from infectious diseases like measles and bird flu and to help people get the mental health care and substance use treatment they need.”

We are currently experiencing a measles outbreak across the United States. As of March 28th, there have been 530 cases of measles across 20 states and the number keeps increasing as health professionals believe that there are many cases not being reported.⁵ The state of Texas is feeling the brunt, with more than 400 cases reported as of Friday, March 28th—a 20% increase since that previous Tuesday.⁶ Despite this, the Trump administration has abruptly canceled public health funding that authorities in Texas were using to help limit the surge in cases.⁷

According to the World Health Organization, at least two people in the U.S. have died—including one child—and cases linked to the outbreak in Texas have been found in nearby states.

This is a public health crisis and Donald Trump’s impulsive decision to cut billions of dollars from state health departments will make things worse.

Send a message now demanding Congress stand up for public health, assert their “power of the purse”, and restore public health funding.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action

¹ Trump Administration Abruptly Cuts Billions From State Health Services
² Trump administration says it wants to fight fentanyl, but it’s slashing budget to fight opioid overdoses
³ APA Statement on Proposed Cuts to SAMHSA
⁴ Trump team revokes $11 billion in funding for addiction, mental health care
⁵ Multistate measles outbreak crosses 450 cases, with possible international spread
⁶ Texas measles outbreak surges to at least 400 cases
⁷ Trump Administration Abruptly Cuts Billions From State Health Services