HHS Cuts $12 Billion in Grants to State, Local Health Departments with Zero Notice

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notified state health departments that they were cancelling several types of public health grants, effective the previous day. The CDC cancelled around $11 billion in grants directed toward COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and initiatives to bridge health disparities, while SAMHSA cancelled around $1 billion in grants focused on mental health services.