ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 25: Protesters holds signs outside the CDC global headquarters during the first meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices on June 25, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, recently fired and replaced all the members of the advisory committee. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
ATLANTA – Health departments across the United States are grappling with unexpected funding delays from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), leading to layoffs and service disruptions.
Immediate Impact
Health departments nationwide are experiencing significant disruptions due to delayed funding from the CDC. The federal agency, responsible for distributing congressional funds to state and local health departments, has not received its full allocation for the 2025 fiscal year. This has resulted in layoffs and halted services, as local health departments struggle without the expected financial support.
Key Details Emerge
According to two CDC staff members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the agency’s funding is months behind schedule. This delay is jeopardizing the distribution of grants crucial for public health operations. The CDC is currently operating with just 30-day funding increments, a situation one staffer described as “rescission by inertia.”
“We keep asking — where’s our money? Where’s the money that’s been approved by Congress?” – CDC Senior Leader
Industry Response
Dr. Scott Harris, president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and head of Alabama’s health department, highlighted the reliance on federal funds. “In Alabama, more than two-thirds of our funding comes from federal grants, predominantly the CDC,” Harris stated. Without timely funding, health departments face operational paralysis.
Grants for critical services, such as HIV prevention, have expired without renewal notices, leading to service shutdowns in states like Ohio and Texas. Mecklenburg County Health Commissioner Raynard Washington reported layoffs of disease investigation specialists due to these delays, impacting HIV, syphilis, and STI contact tracing efforts.
By the Numbers
- 60 staff affected by grant delays in Dallas County
- CDC operating with 30-day funding increments
- $9 billion allocated to CDC for fiscal year 2025
What Comes Next
The CDC’s funding delay has broader implications for public health preparedness. Dr. Philip Huang of Dallas County Health and Human Services warned of potential pauses in immunization and emergency preparedness activities if funding issues persist. Without resolution, critical public health programs face significant setbacks.
Background Context
The funding delays stem from the apportionment process following the signing of a continuing resolution by President Trump in March. Typically, this process takes 45 to 60 days, but the current delay has extended beyond this timeframe, with no clear communication from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the reasons behind it.
“If they can delay until the end of September, then that’s it. Those projects are not going to happen. That money goes straight back to Treasury.” – CDC Staff Member
Expert Analysis
Experts warn that prolonged funding delays could severely impact public health initiatives nationwide. The lack of timely financial support disrupts planning and execution of essential health services, potentially leading to increased disease transmission and public health risks.
Regional Implications
In North Carolina, the absence of funding for the breast and cervical cancer screening program adds to the growing list of affected services. Health Commissioner Washington expressed concern over the lack of communication and the challenges in planning without financial certainty.
With the fiscal year-end approaching in September, the CDC faces a tight timeline to allocate its 2025 funds. Failure to do so could result in unspent funds reverting to the Treasury, further exacerbating the situation.
The unfolding scenario underscores the critical need for timely funding and transparent communication to ensure the continuity of vital public health services across the country.
