A significant amount of funding, amounting to tens of millions of dollars, has been allocated to a health initiative managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after being halted during the Trump administration.
Multiple CDC employees report that the White House Management and Budget Office (OMB) has approved the agency’s spending strategy for several grants that had been delayed since at least the end of July.
OMB did not respond to requests for comment.
The CDC is in the process of distributing at least $200 million for various initiatives, which include programs aimed at preventing youth violence, reducing gun-related injuries and fatalities, preparing for health emergencies, conducting tobacco research, and studying chronic diseases.
One CDC employee noted, “There was a lot of prep work going on, but it’s going to be a huge scramble.”
Staff members are working quickly to reduce any disruptions to partnerships with state and local health departments.
Footnotes in OMB’s July budget memorandum indicated to the CDC Center Director that transferring funds to the paused program was not allowed.
As the new administration began, the White House started to release funds to the CDC on a monthly basis, citing the need for external assessments.
CDC staff indicated that this practice ceased when they received a two-month allocation toward the end of the fiscal year, leaving some grants delayed and lacking communication from management.
State and local health departments are uncertain about the possibility of utilizing their funds before they expire on September 30. Without renewal, certain programs are set to conclude by August 31.
However, CDC personnel claim they cannot inform recipients about the status of their awards, as the situation is subject to change.
“That’s good news with an asterisk,” stated Sharon Gilmartin, executive director of the Safe States Alliance.
Gilmartin added that while it’s a step forward for grants to start moving, the situation still holds uncertainty.
An executive order issued earlier this month has granted political appointees extensive power over the federal grant process, including the authority to end current grants at any moment. Stakeholders are concerned that the White House could also opt to retract funding through a withdrawal request.
“Now it’s on HHS and Doge [the Department of Government Efficiency] to do the right thing and ensure grants reach their intended beneficiaries,” Gilmartin remarked.
