Marion County's Health and Human Services Department is holding off on hiring an immunization coordinator following deep federal cuts to public health grants last week, a spokeswoman said.
The federal Department of Health and Human Services "abruptly canceled more than $12 billion in federal grants" which were authorized by Congress for testing and tracking respiratory illnesses, including Covid, as well as vaccination for children and uninsured adults, the New York Times reported.
The Oregon Health Authority last week said the cuts were about $117 million statewide, with the impact still being determined.
Katrina Griffith, the county department's deputy director, estimated the department would have to return between $300,000 and $700,000 of unspent federal money intended to help with disease prevention and responses to outbreaks.
She said the total likely wouldn't be clear until the end of April, and other positions might be held vacant as the health department works on its budget proposal for 2025-26.
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A Salem project was slated to combine more than a dozen government and nonprofit service providers into one downtown hub. State officials recently declined to back the effort after funding…
An abrupt halt to federal grants worth $12 billion around the country has state and local agencies contemplating layoffs and cuts to programs combatting diseases such as tuberculous, mpox and…
About 30 people discussed aggressive federal cost-cutting efforts and sweeping layoffs in a Friday Braver Angels event organized to promote respectful political discussion and disagreement.
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