Local health departments across Northeast Ohio say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has rescinded funding for ongoing disease prevention, treatment and building projects.
Health officials estimate the cuts amount to $11.4 billion in public health funding nationally.
The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, explained the cuts in a statement.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago. HHS is prioritizing funding projects that will deliver on President Trump’s mandate to address our chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again,” the statement read.
Among local programs immediately affected are COVID-19 contact tracing, substance use prevention, treatment and recovery services and mental health services, local health officials reported. Read the full story on IdeaStream news outlet.