United States: Total expenditure on public health services extends beyond USD 160 million in Washington state because the Trump administration cut funding from federal agencies.
Public Health Funding Slashed
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent an instant termination notice about pandemic grants that totaled at least USD 130 million to the Department of Health, according to Marisol Mata Somarribas, who represents the department.
Public health systems secured by these grants enable disease surveillance and infection control capabilities and vaccine development for COVID alongside other respiratory viruses.
These public health system IT platforms receive funding from the grant system.
The New York Times revealed that nationwide, the CDC eliminated federal grants totaling USD 11.4 billion, seattletimes.com reported.
Washington state is losing more than $160 million in federal health funding as President Donald Trump's administration slashes federal agencies' budgets. https://t.co/bNbRmnHUOl
— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) March 27, 2025
State health department workers, alongside their partner organizations, number more than 200 employees who face job interruptions due to funding budget cuts, Mata Somarribas mentioned.
The Health Department is presently evaluating the budget effects of these cuts while promising to inform the public about new developments as they happen, she stated.
According to the former state Health Secretary Dr. Umair Shah, “The reality is that, when we take funding away from public health systems, the systems just do not have the capacity because they’re chronically underfunded over the decades,” the New York Times reported.
Senator Patty Murray from Washington defended the state the following day by arguing funding reductions would limit disease response abilities and hamper access to mental wellness treatment as well as substance use care.
CANCELED HEALTH FUNDING | Tens of billions of dollars in federal grants that state and local health departments were using to track infectious diseases, health disparities, vaccinations, and mental health services have been canceled. pic.twitter.com/xp6KT2UUb2
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) March 27, 2025
Setback to Mental Health & Addiction Services
According to spokesperson Kennedy Soileau, the state Health Care Authority will lose an additional USD 34 million in funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as he informed the public during afternoon hours on Wednesday.
Through these funds, the state-funded both community-based mental health programs and local substance use prevention treatments with treatment and recovery services.
Two grants originating from the massive 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Stimulus package got canceled.
The Health Care Authority of Washington acquired grants that focused on supporting patients with serious mental illness and substance use disorders.