Along with extensive reductions to the personnel of the Disease Control and Prevention Centers, Trump’s administration has asked the Agency to reduce $ 2.9 billion from its costs on contracts, according to three federal officials with knowledge of the matter.
The administration cost cutting program, called the government’s efficiency department, asked the Public Health Service to discontinue about 35 % of its spending on contracts about two weeks ago. The CDC had said to comply until April 18, according to officials.
The cuts promise to further prevent an organization that is already unfolding from the loss of 2,400 employees, almost one fifth of its workforce.
On Tuesday, the administration shot CDC scientists focused on environmental health and asthma, injuries, prevention of violence, poisoning, smoking and climate change.
White house officials and the Ministry of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to commentary requests.
A sharp decrease in 35 % of contracts would be difficult for any organization or business, said Tom Inglesby, Director of the Johns Hopkins Health Center at the Bloomberg Public Health School, who informed Biden’s administration during Covid.
“Certainly, every manager can find minor savings and improvements, but these types of requirements are of the size and speed that break down the organizations,” he said. “This is not the way to do good for public or public health.”
The largest CDC contract, about $ 7 billion a year, goes to the vaccines for children, who buys vaccines for parents who may not be able to afford them.
This program is mandated by law and will not be affected by the cuts, according to a senior employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
However, other CDC contracts include computers and other technologies, security guards, cleaning services and facilities management. The organization also hires people to create and maintain data systems in specific research projects.
In recent years, contracts have also supported COVID-19 activities, one official said.
Separately, the HHS has abruptly interrupted CDC grants of approximately $ 11.4 billion in states using funds to monitor infectious diseases and support mental health, addiction treatment and other health issues.
At least some of the Doge contracts are now asking the service to stop it no longer implemented, because the people who oversee them have been fired.
This is not the first time Doge has asked the Agency to reduce funding.
He previously called for the CDC to reduce grants at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, saying that these institutions failed to take action against anti -Semitism on campus.
“The grants and funding contracts are the mechanism with which we do things,” said a CDC scientist who asked to remain anonymous because of the fear of retaliation.
“They cut our hands and feet.”
