Last week, the Trump administration dealt another blow to the country’s public health system with the decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to cut over $11.4 billion in CDC grants. As a result, New York City will lose $100 million in grants dedicated to infectious disease prevention and surveillance, a setback that will inevitably bring significant challenges for the city’s health department staff and the broader community.
This came on top of the termination of HSS’s grants for state substance abuse and mental health agency programs, resulting in the loss of $300 million for New York to support critical services such as addiction treatment, mental health care, and recovery programs. And adding insult to injury, last week the Trump administration also launched a substantial round of layoffs at HSS, impacting approximately 10,000 federal employees.
New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) relies heavily on federal funding to sustain its operations. Last month, seven CDC employees who worked at the city’s Health Department were terminated amid the federal agency’s layoffs. The combination of these grant cuts and last week’s massive HSS layoffs is likely to trigger additional staff reductions within the health department, including epidemiologists, community health workers, and mental health professionals with the expertise and institutional knowledge needed to respond effectively to public health emergencies.
Layoffs of health experts who study things like asthma, which disproportionately impacts Black communities, as well as smoking and lead poisoning, will also deepen inequities in our healthcare system. Funding cuts will also significantly affect reproductive health services, minority health initiatives, and programs aimed at improving vaccine accessibility in New York’s underserved communities.
The cuts to substance abuse and mental health programs will similarly undermine efforts to address the opioid crisis and provide support for individuals with serious mental illnesses, which unequally impact marginalized populations, including low-income residents and communities of color. Without adequate resources, the city may see an increase in overdose deaths, untreated mental illnesses, and homelessness, further straining social services and public safety.
In essence, these cuts send a clear message that the health of Black and brown people is not a priority. But the ripple effects will extend far beyond communities of color. The grant terminations come as the agency faces pressing public health threats, including the highest number of tuberculosis cases in a decade, the emergence of local measles cases, and rising concerns about bird flu. The loss of funding will compromise the city’s ability to track and respond to monitor these diseases, which could lead to increased disease transmission and preventable deaths.
The abrupt nature of these cuts has left DOHMH scrambling to adjust their budgets and operations. In a recent NYC City Council hearing, Dr. Michelle Morse, DOHMH’s Acting Health Commissioner, indicated that the department is exploring ways to retain laid-off staff and sustain critical programs, but that the loss of federal funding will inevitably limit its capacity. The city may need to rely on state and local resources to fill the gap, but these funds are often insufficient to meet the scale of the need.
Adding to the financial strain, New York City receives only a 20 percent match in Article 6 funding for its health programs, compared to the 36 percent match provided to other municipalities in New York State. This disparity has cost the city upwards of $90 million annually since 2019. The reduced reimbursement rate places an additional burden on the city’s public health infrastructure, making it even more challenging to absorb the impact of federal funding cuts.
My organization and other advocacy groups have called for the restoration of the 36 percent match rate to ensure equitable funding and support for New York City’s diverse population. State Senator Gustavo Rivera and State Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas have introduced legislation (S4801/A2705) to right this wrong and ensure NYC is no longer shortchanged
The attempt by the Trump administration to dismantle our public health infrastructure is unparalleled in the country’s history and reflects a complete disregard for public health and safety. Addressing this crisis will demand exceptional leadership from state and city officials to protect the health and well-being of millions who rely on a strong public health system. Letting these cuts go unaddressed risks not only the lives of individuals but the very resilience and stability of New York City as a whole.
Ultimately, addressing these and other federal funding cuts may require raising taxes on the state’s wealthiest individuals – an option that has, so far, been met with resistance from government leaders. However, tackling the scale of these funding gaps seems impossible without asking this group to contribute a more equitable share for the benefit of society. Taking decisive action is imperative before the consequences of inaction become too great to bear.
David R. Jones, Esq., is President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), the leading voice on behalf of low-income New Yorkers for more than 175 years. The views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer. The Urban Agenda is available on CSS’s website: www.cssny.org.