N.J. health officials issue stop work notices after loss of federal funds – New Jersey Globe

Public health programs funded by the federal government were ordered to shut down on Monday after the Trump Administration pulled back their subsidies.

The New Jersey Department of Health issued a stop work notice late yesterday.

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a stop work order cancelling about $11 billion in grant agreements across the U.S.    All 21 counties receive funding under these grants, which go to county, municipal and regional health departments across New Jersey.

“The disruptive impacts created by the Trump Administration ripping away $350 million in congressionally-approved federal funding for the New Jersey Department of Health and the New Jersey Department of Human Services endanger critical public health programs in communities across New Jersey,” said Tyler Jones, a spokesman for Gov. Phil Murphy.  “Our office shares our partners’ frustration over the unnecessary confusion and uncertainty for frontline public health work resulting from the Trump Administration’s actions.

No guidance has been sent to recipients, but it could mean a permanent end of some heath services and layoffs.

Linda Brown, the executive director of the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials, said on Friday she was confident that their Enhancing Local Public Health Infrastructure and Sustaining Local Public Health Infrastructure grants would be affected and that costs incurred after March 28 would not be reimbursed.

“Being very frank, we know far less than we do.  I want to identify that the impacts of this stop work order will have profound impacts on NJACCHO programming, operation and staff,” Brown said.  “We have gotten inconsistent communication shared with the organization from some local health agencies from different NJDOH sources.  There is still much we need to determine.”

Jones said the Murphy Administration is “committed to fighting these illegal clawbacks and is working tirelessly to get more information to share with each impacted organization and resident.”

“Our priority remains protecting public health,” Jones stated.

The chair of the Assembly Health Committee, Carol Murphy, said she was “exploring all options to fight back and protect our residents.”

“The reckless and irresponsible stop work order issued by the federal government immediately removes $350 million in federally approved funding for the State of New Jersey, jeopardizing the public health of our residents,” she said.  “The dire consequences will be immediate, as mass layoffs devastate healthcare services and outcomes. The disruptive actions of the Trump Administration are harmful.”