The Trump administration is considering a sweeping plan to cut the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget by more than 30%, reducing discretionary funding from $116.8 billion to roughly $80.4 billion. The proposal would eliminate entire agencies, consolidate programs under a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), and dramatically scale back the government’s role in public health, mental health, and chronic disease prevention. The plan is outlined in a preliminary document from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and remains subject to change.

Key changes proposed:

• Major agency cuts: Funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would drop by more than 40%, eliminating major initiatives like the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative and chronic disease prevention programs.
• Agency eliminations: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) would be dismantled, and selected activities merged into the new Administration for a Healthy America.

Why it matters:

• Public health risks: Cuts would end federal efforts on HIV/AIDS surveillance, autism research, mental health services, minority health initiatives, and firearm injury prevention — erasing decades of progress.
• Reshaping the FDA: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would stop conducting routine food facility inspections, shifting that responsibility to state agencies, raising concerns about food safety oversight.
• ASPPH Action: ASPPH continues to advocate for key public health agencies and priorities and is closely monitoring the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. We will share updates as the president’s budget proposal and congressional action on spending bills continue to develop.

ASPPH and several principal investigators and directors from the Prevention Research Center (PRC) Network sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriations leaders and authorization committees, urging continued support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) PRC Program. The nearly 40-year-old program translates public health research into real-world impact. The letter also raises concerns about recent CDC workforce reductions that could jeopardize the Network’s future.

Why the PRC Network Matters:

• Trusted national-local model: The 20 PRCs across the US partner with schools, churches, health departments, and community centers to deliver scalable solutions for nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease prevention.

• Research into action: PRCs bridge the gap between evidence and implementation—delivering interventions that work in real-life settings while creating local jobs and reinforcing public health infrastructure.
• Aligned with national priorities: Through thematic networks, PRCs contribute to CDC strategies on cancer, diabetes, and more—addressing rising chronic disease burdens and healthcare costs.
• ASPPH funding priorities: ASPPH continues to advocate for our FY 2026 priorities, including $11.5 billion for the CDC and $35 million specifically for the PRC Program.

On April 1, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shut down the premier viral hepatitis lab, severely weakening the US’s ability to track, prevent, and respond to hepatitis A–E. Experts say the closure, part of broader federal workforce cuts, leaves the country without key data needed to understand the spread of hepatitis and to contain outbreaks linked to poor infection control or contaminated medical settings.

Why It Matters:

• The lab was the only facility in the US performing advanced molecular analysis of hepatitis samples, crucial for linking cases and identifying outbreak sources.
• Without it, public health agencies lose the ability to estimate national infection rates and monitor trends, especially for hepatitis B and C, which can become chronic and deadly.

• The development of a rapid, single-test hepatitis C diagnostic — a tool that could vastly improve detection and treatment — has been abruptly halted.
• Multiple current outbreaks tied to medical facilities may go uninvestigated, with no lab capacity left to trace transmission or identify lapses in infection control.

ASPPH Action:

• ASPPH also signed onto a letter led by the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) in support of the CDC’s viral hepatitis labs and continues to advocate for funding for the Hepatitis C Elimination Program.

The Senate Appropriations Committee, led by  Chair Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and ranking minority member Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), announced a two-part hearing series titled “Biomedical Research: Keeping America’s Edge in Innovation.” The first hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, and will spotlight the critical role biomedical research plays in protecting public health and advancing the US economy.

 Details and Participation:

• The hearing will be held at 10:30 AM ET on April 30 in Room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, and a live stream will be available to the public and media.

• Part one will feature researchers and stakeholder groups discussing the societal and economic value of US-funded biomedical research. 
• A second hearing will follow at a later date, focused on the federal government’s role in supporting biomedical innovation. 

In the face of significant proposed cuts to public health programs, advocacy is more important than ever. Advocacy is an essential skill for public health professionals seeking to create meaningful, lasting change. Building the capacity to engage policymakers, mobilize communities, and influence public opinion is critical to advancing the health and well-being of populations. Across our ASPPH membership, many institutions are leading efforts to embed advocacy into their culture.
 
New Opportunity: 2025 Advocacy Action Lab:

• The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is offering a hybrid training for faculty and staff at academic health institutions. This event includes a full-day, in-person session on Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Washington, DC, along with virtual monthly meet-ups from May through September. Applications are due by Friday, May 2, 2025.
• The program fee is $3,400, with scholarship assistance available. Participants can earn credits for Continuing Medical Education (CME), Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and Certified in Public Health (CPH). ASPPH members can obtain a $1,000 discount by using the code FridayLetter.

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