Trump cuts impact Kansas health care, mental health funding
TOPEKA (KSNT) - The Trump administration terminated more than $30 million in health care grants, resulting in the loss of dozens of jobs and leaving communities without services.
Governor Laura Kelly's office announced in a news release Thursday, May 8 that President Donald Trump's administration abruptly "unilateral termination' of more than $33 million in grants that support health care and mental health in the Sunflower State.
These cuts force the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to get rid of 56 positions in health posts, which leaves communities across the state without access to critical services.
“The Trump administration’s abrupt and unilateral funding cuts will have severe and immediate consequences for the health, safety, and quality of life of Kansans across the state, especially in rural areas,” Kelly said. “These cuts come when Kansas is in the midst of fighting two outbreaks — tuberculosis and measles — and has no additional resources to continue this work.”
According to the news release, the federal funding that goes towards grants and employees helps "strengthen the state's epidemiology and laboratory work, monitor and respond to disease outbreak, administer critical programs that provide vaccines for children, and address health disparities for underserved communities and rural Kansans".
After becoming aware of these cuts, Kelly called Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, (R), to bring a case on behalf of the state to fight these federal funding cuts, and Kobach declined, according to the news release.
On March 25, the Trump administration notified KDHE and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) that six grants administered to them were terminated the day prior.
For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.