Trump Administration to Reclaim $11.4 Billion in COVID-19 Funds from Local Health Departments

The Trump administration announced on March 26, 2025, that it will reclaim $11.4 billion in COVID-19-related funds from state and local health departments. The funds, originally designated for testing, vaccination, and health disparity initiatives during the pandemic, are now considered unnecessary by the Department of Health and Human Services as the crisis is declared over.

Critics have expressed concern that the move could undermine broader public health efforts, noting that these funds were also supporting measures like flu monitoring and other urgent health issues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is set to begin the process of reclaiming the money within 30 days, a decision that has sparked debate among public health officials and lawmakers about the potential negative impacts on community health and future emergency preparedness.