CSEA slams Trump administration (federal government) for drastic cuts to vital public health services

ALBANY, NY (04/02/2025) (readMedia)-- The recently reported clawback of federal public health grants and layoffs of more than 10,000 workers at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also retroactively terminated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Health Disparities Grant, impacting important public health programs across the state.

Nearly 150 private sector positions represented by CSEA at Health Research Inc. (HRI) were at risk due to these cuts. In response, Governor Kathy Hochul swiftly intervened to reassign as many impacted employees possible to other grant projects. The situation remains fluid as the aim is to safeguard public health and prevent permanent job losses.

The grant also terminates 135 contracts with community-based organizations, pivotal public health programming and capacity building. Retraction of this grant stops $11 million further investment in more than 145 small community-based organizations across the state that HRI employees were working on, including more than 180 separate projects that improved people's overall health and wellness, decreasing risk of chronic disease, adverse mental health, food insecurity and many other benefits to our communities that are actually consistent with the Make America Healthy Again policy of the Trump administration.

"This isn't using a scalpel to make minor budget cuts," said CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan. "It's using a chainsaw to hack away at public services that will harm communities. These grant cuts disproportionately affect underserved and vulnerable communities in addition to the workforce. This is reckless and unacceptable. Losing these public health services will be not only devastate the communities served, but will have long-lasting impact for all New York families."

"With the announcement of $300 million in cuts in Department of Health programs across the state, this is the tip of the iceberg," said Sullivan. "Cutting funding for researching emerging diseases, strengthening our ability to respond to future outbreaks, outreach and education relies on public health grants. It is clear that this administration's policies disproportionately benefit the rich and corporations while hurting hardworking Americans."

The Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) is one of the largest and most influential unions in New York and the United States. Formed in 1910, CSEA has improved the lives of hardworking New Yorkers for more than 100 years and is the largest affiliate of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). For more information, visit cseany.org.

Health Research Incorporated (HRI) contributes to the health and well-being of the people of New York State by complementing and enabling the strategic public health goals of the New York State Department of Health (DOH), Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (RPCC), and other health-related entities. HRI provides best-in-class resource administration for stakeholders and programs related to the work and priorities of the Department of Health and its other partners. HRI does this through the provision of knowledge, expertise, funding guidance, and fiduciary oversight of sponsored program funding for public health and research programs in concert with community partnerships.

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