Springfield – The administration of President Donald Trump withdraws $ 477 million from Illinois which was to be used to prevent infectious diseases and treat mental health and drug addiction problems.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced this week that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought $ 125 million allocated to IDPH and 97 local health services for the prevention of infectious diseases. Additional $ 324 million appropriate by the congress for “future use” to prevent and treat infectious diseases are also blocked.
In addition, the Illinois Ministry of Social Services was informed this week that $ 28 million in the US Health and Social Health Services Department and the Treatment of Substances Consumption Disorders would be interrupted. The funds had been assigned by the Congress to the American Rescue Plan Act for 77 community organizations in Illinois providing mental health and drug addiction treatment services to residents.
“This decision to put an end to federal funding already awarded will lead to immeasurable damage and disruption to the health and security of the inhabitants of Illinois and will generate larger expenses in the longer term,” Governor JB Pritzker said in a statement.
IDPH financing for infectious disease prevention will see a “debilitating impact,” said Sameer Vohra in a press release. IDPH used funding to monitor the spread of diseases, invest in laboratory upgrades, develop public health workforce and improve vaccination efforts.
A report Published Thursday by Trust for America’s Health, a non -profit research organization, ranked states in one of the three levels according to their preparation for a public health emergency, and Illinois has been classified at the intermediate level.
The Illinois is one of the 47 states with detailed “overvoltage plans”, which describe IDPH’s ability to manage a sudden increase in demand tests and implement changes such as reallocating staff and acquire supplies, according to the report.
During the last decade, Idph has published several overvoltage plans, including a “Preparation and response plan to EBOLA virus virus disease“In 2019 and a “Preparation and response plan to pandemic flu” in 2020.
An overvoltage plan is a “critical indicator of the emergency preparation of a state” which demonstrates the capacities of a state to fight against a crisis, according to the report.
He noted that the seasonal vaccination rates of the flu also give an overview of the response capacities to the emergence of the state. According to IdphAbout 28% of Illinoisans received a flu vaccine for the current season.
The IDPH also keeps an eye on the spread of the bird flu with the now ceded federal funds. Although the CDC affirms that the bird flu is currently being a threat to humans, it is to be feared that the interaction between the seasonal flu virus and the bird flu virus can create a new strain that could begin human human transmissions and increase the risk of a pandemic, declared Vohra in February in February in February in February in February in February in February in February in February in February in February in February interview With Capitol News Illinois.
Find out more: Illinois health officials take precautions from the bird flu despite no “ active risk ” for humans
Legal and budgetary impacts
The financing of IDPH and DHS programs was assigned by the congress, but is now canceled by executive agencies. The Office of the Attorney General of Illinois has already continued the Trump administration on other expense reductions, including on funding,, Clean energy grants And Teacher preparation subsidies.
The financing of IDPH infectious disease prevention programs was assigned by the Congress in the Cares 2020 law – a law signed by Trump designed to help businesses, individuals and health establishments to access the finance to the strongest of the pandemic. The funding of the DHS mental health and drug addiction program was allocated by the congress in the 2021 American rescue plan – a vast recovery bill signed by President Joe Biden who included the financing of the programs intended to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
“The State of Illinois will do everything in our power to restore this vital federal funding and will continue to invest in common sense public health solutions to ensure the safety and health of our state,” said Pritzker.
A judge published a preliminary injunction blocking the broad federal expenses of Trump in January, but the Illinois and other states continued to be informed that the money already intended for the use of the State is canceled.
Find out more: Pritzker says that federal funds are still retained
The $ 477 million from IDPH and DHS are part of around $ 1.8 billion in federal funding that the State expects to receive but remains in limbo. It is also the last example of the state that loses money that is already used.
In early March, the Illinois Ministry of Agriculture learned that the Trump administration will not reimburse the State for the costs in the Illinois-Eats program incurred after Trump took up his duties, leaving the State without $ 18 million in reimbursements. The program provides fresh food from Illinois farms to community distribution sites.
Find out more: The Trump administration puts an end to reimbursements for Illinois food programs
The American Department of Agriculture dismissed a subsidy of $ 26.3 million at the start of the month at the Illinois State School Board which helped schools and Illinois child care to buy fresh products cultivated locally from Illinois farmers for use in meals and snacks.
Find out more: In remarks to the teachers’ union, Pritzker is unleashed during Trump’s education cuts
Other areas of financing are also uncertain, as federal judges issue injunctions preventing the federal government from blocking funding already forced to states and the Trump administration changes courses to find out if it will end or pursue programs.
Capitol News Illinois is a non -profit non -partisan information service that distributes the coverage of the state government to hundreds of media throughout the state. It is funded mainly by Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.