In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, states experienced a significant influx of federal funding aimed at enhancing their public health responses. This financial boost enabled state and local health departments to expand staffing for critical tasks like contact tracing and vaccination campaigns. According to a report from the National Association of County and City Health Officials, local health department staffing grew by approximately 19 percent from 2019 to 2022, with half of these departments’ revenue in 2022 coming from federal sources.
However, public health leaders are sounding alarms about an impending fiscal cliff as federal grants begin to expire. Over a year after the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared an end to the pandemic emergency, states such as Montana, California, and Washington face tough decisions regarding layoffs and cuts to essential services.
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed slashing $300 million from public health funding. Meanwhile, Washington’s Department of Health has cut over 350 positions last year and more than 200 this year. In many instances, the pandemic cash merely kept smaller health departments afloat. For example, the Central Montana Health District—serving five rural counties—received enough funding to retain one staff member for testing and vaccinations but could not hire additional workers. Public Health Director Susan Woods noted that they now have only five full-time employees: “Any kind of crisis… would probably send us crashing,” she warned.
Public health experts are concerned that losing staff who perform vital functions like disease investigation, immunization programs, family planning, and restaurant inspections could plunge communities into crisis. Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs for the national health officials’ group, anticipates that layoffs and budget cuts will intensify as health officials tackle issues sidelined during the pandemic—such as rising rates of sexually transmitted infections, suicide, and substance misuse.
In late September, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a public health emergency for states affected by Hurricane Helene, facilitating easier access to federal resources for local authorities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Following this declaration came another emergency announcement ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall in Florida.
As rural health departments face compounding challenges like hospital closures and reduced maternity care services—making them particularly vulnerable—the need for robust public health infrastructure remains critical. Without adequate resources ready for emergencies like natural disasters or potential pandemics, communities risk facing severe consequences when crises strike.
Published on October 16, 2024 and Last Updated on October 17, 2024 by: Priyank Pandey
