The Trump administration is freezing funds for several Centers for Disease Control and Prevention programs, according to a Wall Street Journal report, affecting initiatives on gun violence, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, tobacco, and youth violence prevention.
Sources estimate the withheld amount ranges from $200 million to over $300 million. The freeze comes as the White House seeks to reduce public health spending, with plans to cut the CDC’s overall budget by $3.6 billion, down to $4 billion.
The cuts follow a layoff plan by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that eliminated 2,400 CDC jobs. Roughly 700 of those workers have since been rehired.
Earlier this week, Susan Monarez was confirmed as the new CDC director. She will oversee the agency during what the administration calls a necessary downsizing, though critics view it as politically motivated.
The CDC has not publicly commented on the funding freeze.
Sources:
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