Red States Most Impacted By Trump Cuts To CDC Grants

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At this level, I believe we will safely say that the Republican Social gathering is a loss of life cult. Within the occasion you want extra proof for that thesis, don’t fear, I’ve acquired you. Earlier this 12 months, the Trump administration terminated a number of CDC grants supposed to improve healthcare techniques, cut back demographic disparities in healthcare outcomes, and rent group healthcare staff. Because the 12 months has gone on, knowledge reveals that states that voted for Trump have been most impacted by the CDC’s grant terminations.

In accordance with NBC Information, crimson states have been most affected by the cuts as a result of state management didn’t do something to struggle again in opposition to them. When the CDC initially terminated the grants, the impression was evenly unfold out throughout crimson and blue states. Whereas management in crimson states refused to face up for his or her constituents, a number of governors and attorneys normal in blue states instantly set to work and filed injunctions in opposition to the grant terminations in federal courts. On account of these injunctions, blue states solely make up 16% of the CDC grant terminations, with crimson states now making up 77% of the terminations.

From NBC Information:

Federal CDC funding accounts for greater than half of state and native well being division budgets, in keeping with KFF, a well being data nonprofit that features KFF Well being Information. States that President Donald Trump gained within the 2024 election obtained a better share of the $15 billion the CDC allotted in fiscal 2023 than those who Democrat Kamala Harris gained, in keeping with KFF.

The Trump administration’s nationwide CDC grant terminations replicate this. Greater than half have been in states that Trump gained in 2024, totaling not less than 370 terminations earlier than the court docket motion, in keeping with KFF Well being Information’ evaluation.

The Columbus, Ohio, well being division had obtained $6.2 million in CDC grants, however roughly half of it — $3 million — disappeared with the Trump cuts. The town laid off 11 individuals who labored on investigating infectious illness outbreaks in such locations as faculties and nursing properties, Columbus Well being Commissioner Mysheika Roberts stated.

Now, it’s straightforward to really feel a way of schadenfreude at Trump supporters getting precisely what they voted for, however I’d pump the brakes on that line of pondering. Whereas sure, many Republican voters ostensibly shot themselves within the foot, the crimson states most affected by these cuts boast vital Black populations. Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, and Ohio have been the 4 states that had the best variety of CDC grant terminations.

There are 3.5 million Black individuals who reside in Georgia, making up roughly 32% of the state’s inhabitants. Texas has the best inhabitants of Black folks within the U.S., with 4,334,313, making up 13.4% of the state’s inhabitants.

Final 12 months, Georgia ranked first within the nation for HIV transmission, with Black folks disproportionately making up the vast majority of new HIV diagnoses within the state. Regardless of HIV transmission clearly being an issue in a state that went for Trump in 2024, the Trump administration axed a number of grants supposed for HIV analysis and issued an govt order withholding CDC grants from nonprofits centered on LGBTQ sexual well being on account of variety, fairness, and inclusion (DEI) issues.

The Trump administration’s strategy to public well being looks like they sat round in a room and requested one another, “What if we went from DEI to only letting folks DIE?”

The funding cuts in Texas got here because the state confronted the nation’s worst measles outbreak in three many years. The outbreak started in West Texas earlier than spreading nationwide, leading to 1431 folks getting contaminated with the illness and three folks dying.

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon defended the cuts in a press release despatched to NBC Information, saying the company “is dedicated to defending the well being of each American, no matter politics or geography. These funds have been offered in response to the COVID pandemic, which is lengthy over. We are going to proceed working with states to strengthen public well being infrastructure and guarantee communities have the instruments they want to reply to outbreaks and maintain folks secure.”

Public well being specialists push again in opposition to the notion that the terminated CDC grants have been completely for COVID response. “It actually supported infrastructure throughout the board, significantly in how states reply to public well being threats,” Susan Kansagra, chief medical officer of the Affiliation of State and Territorial Well being Officers, instructed NBC Information.

Whereas it’s straightforward to say that individuals in crimson states ought to simply vote of their finest curiosity, there’s a powerful likelihood many individuals already are, however their votes are being more and more marginalized via gerrymandered electoral maps. I want I could possibly be shocked by all this, however there’s nothing extra American than disenfranchising Black folks and utilizing legislative energy to actively kill us.