Arizona Health Agencies Brace for Layoffs and Service Cuts as Trump Era Funding Ends

PHOENIX — Pima and Mohave Counties are preparing for significant disruptions following the Trump Administration’s recent decision to withdraw $190 million in grant funding. This move threatens public health services and could lead to widespread layoffs across multiple counties in Arizona.

Will Humble, the executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, emphasized the crucial role of federal funding in maintaining local health initiatives. “Almost all of the work that’s done by county health departments in Arizona is federally funded,” he explained. The funds have been instrumental in bolstering responses to public health challenges, including vaccinations, testing, and disease monitoring.

The implications of these cuts are dire, according to Humble. “If you don’t have the funds to pay the people, then the work doesn’t get done,” he stated. Essential services such as food-borne illness investigations and tracking of sexually transmitted infections may be severely hampered. The loss of funding could prevent health officials from identifying and responding to outbreaks like measles in a timely manner.

Earlier in the week, the Trump Administration announced it would retract $11 billion in COVID-related funding nationally, claiming the need to cease what they deemed a waste of taxpayer dollars in response to what they called a “non-existent pandemic.”

The Arizona Department of Health Services is responsible for distributing federal grants to health departments across the state. As the largest county health department, Maricopa County is currently assessing the specific impacts of these cuts. Reports indicate that the county is still working through the implications for its health services.

In Pima County, Manager Jan Lesher informed the County Board that several contracts would be terminated, resulting in a diminished capacity to deliver essential community services. This could affect as many as 50 county employees. The severity of these layoffs highlights the immediate ramifications of the funding reductions.

Mohave County also faces challenges, with an anticipated loss of $800,000 in funding, which could jeopardize five positions within its health department. Health Director Melissa Palmer noted that these cuts would directly impact essential public health programs, including the Mobile Health Unit and immunization services for children. “We understand the importance of these programs to the community and are committed to finding solutions to mitigate the effects of these funding cuts,” she said.

Further afflictions from the budget cuts extend to tribal health departments and universities as well. Currently, the Arizona Department of Health Services relies on federal funding for 62% of its budget, totaling $483 million this fiscal year. It remains unclear how the specific percentage cut will affect various state programs due to staggered funding timelines.