President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to cut $600 million in public health funding, including Bay Area programs, because the government believes the grants no longer match their priorities.
A list shared with congressional committees Monday of affected entities include the California Department of Public Health and the health departments of Alameda, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties, along with nongovernmental organizations such as the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and University of California, San Francisco.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention administers the grants, which fund health department operations and programs targeting specific communities. The funds in question were previously appropriated by Congress, with some being approved before the Trump administration entered the White House.
The administration plans to rescind funding for programs in California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota. It was not immediately clear why officials selected only those four states for cuts.
In September, the CDC released new priorities for public health programs. The agency said its previous goals had “not translated into measurable improved health for minority populations, and in many cases has undermined core American values.”
“These grants are being terminated because they do not reflect agency priorities,” said a spokesperson for the federal Department of Health and Human Services in an email.
‘Reckless, irresponsible and dangerous’
The proposed cuts would affect programs aimed at reducing social isolation among older LGBTQ Latinos, expanding HIV prevention efforts across the region, and strengthening public health data and monitoring systems.
House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, criticized the move and urged the funds to remain in place. She said the grants support core public health functions that keep communities safe and the attempt to remove them is an effort to punish communities the administration disagrees with.
“The Trump administration’s decision to rip $600 million in congressionally appropriated public health funding from California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota is reckless, irresponsible and dangerous,” said Pelosi. “In California alone, these cuts threaten local health departments and trusted partners like UCSF that serve vulnerable populations and protect public health for everyone.”
“As we navigate any federal impacts, SFDPH will continue to prioritize essential social safety net programs and direct clinical and patient services.”
San Francisco Department of Public Health spokesperson
The San Francisco Department of Public Health said they had not received formal notice of the potential cuts. The city has more than 11,000 people living with HIV and has continuously been working with community partners to curb the spread of the virus.
“SFDPH has not received any communication from the federal government regarding these grants and continues to monitor the situation closely,” said a SFDPH spokesperson. “As we navigate any federal impacts, SFDPH will continue to prioritize essential social safety net programs and direct clinical and patient services.”