COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Trump Administration’s decision to cut $12 billion in COVID-19 pandemic related funding to state health departments last month has led the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency to stop spending funds from a $400,000 federal grant.
Health Officer Rebecca Burns reported to the agency’s Board of Health on Thursday that they were notified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to cease spending on the grant titled “Infection Prevention and Healthcare-Associated Infections Response Support”, as of March 31.
She said about $40,000 has been spent. With the loss of funding, Burns stated, “we had proactively made the difficult decision in FY24 to reduce staffing supported solely by this and other pandemic-related grants. Our mobile nurse position, which was funded through this grant and others, has been removed from active posting and will not be filled.”
But Burns was confident no staff layoffs will be necessary as staff time previously allocated to this grant has been reassigned to other funding sources.
Reuters reported the Trump Administration cuts affected grants that were allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also reported the grants were being used to track, prevent and control infectious diseases, including measles and bird flu, as well as track mental health services and fund addiction treatment.
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