WILMINGTON, Del. — “The Trump administration is stealing $38 million from Delaware that goes directly towards funding key public health programs,” that's the claim being made by Governor Matt Meyer.
Delaware has joined 22 other states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit seeking to keep in place $38 million in Congressionally approved funding for the state’s Department of Health and Social Services. The funding supports public health, behavioral health, and substance abuse services.
In March Delaware received notice that the Trump administration had retroactively terminated the funding, effective March 24. According to officials, the decision came without warning or explanation.
Governor Meyer says the cut impacts “programs that provide targeted case management to prevent overdoses, mental health services to prevent suicides, and immunization programs that prevent deadly diseases like measles, polio, and tetanus.”
According to the Meyer administration, the funding supported six public and mental health programs, 62 state merit full-time employment positions, and contracted staff at community health providers.
“These unprecedented, unexpected federal cuts will undoubtedly cause very real and serious impacts to Delawareans who rely on essential DHSS programs,” said DHSS Cabinet Secretary Josette D. Manning, Esq. “We will continue to exhaust every available avenue to restore promised federal funding to protect public health for all Delawareans.”
Programs affected by the funding termination include:
Division of Public Health:
- Community Health Workers Grant
- Health Disparities Grant
- Immunization Grant
- Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases Grant
Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health:
- Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant
- Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services
In light of these grant terminations, the Meyer administration says the state has pledged to support 30 days of continued work to prevent immediate layoffs and facilitate transitions to alternative funding sources.