Federal Grant Cuts Impact Michigan Health and Human Services Funding

In a surprising move, over $390 million in federal funding to Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services has reportedly been cut. The information, found on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website, leaves many questions unanswered.

The DOGE site, which has been criticized for past inaccuracies and overstated figures, claims these cuts come from federal Health and Human Services (HHS) grants but does not specify which programs are affected. This reduction is part of a larger pattern, with more than $11 billion in HHS grant cuts reported recently, stemming from pandemic-era funding.

States utilized these funds for a variety of public health initiatives, from infectious disease prevention to mental health and addiction services. Of the national cuts, about $1 billion were made by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which operates under HHS.

“SAMHSA expects to save over $1 billion in Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 (H.R. 6074) and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) funds,” a SAMHSA spokesperson confirmed via email. “The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago. HHS is prioritizing funding projects that will deliver on President Trump’s mandate to Make America Healthy Again.”

The spokesperson did not elaborate on whether Michigan is directly impacted by the SAMHSA cuts. HHS has yet to respond to requests for clarification regarding the Michigan funding reductions.

As of Thursday, DOGE’s website details over a dozen separate MDHHS funding reductions from HHS, all dated March 23. These cuts range from more than $230 million in the largest instance to $80,582.92 in the smallest.

Michigan’s response remains uncertain, with an MDHHS spokesperson indicating that they are awaiting further information about the accuracy of the DOGE numbers and which grants are affected. Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office has deferred comments to MDHHS, while Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has yet to respond.

How other states are reacting to the cuts

States are reacting differently to the federal funding cuts. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy criticized the $350 million cut in approved federal funding for state health services. He warned that these cuts could hinder efforts to combat diseases like measles and tuberculosis and vowed potential legal action to restore the funding.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul reported a loss of $300 million and highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by the opioid epidemic and mental health crises. She stressed that no state has the resources to compensate for such significant federal funding cuts.

In Colorado, officials noted the loss of $250 million in funding, affecting 60 programs across the state, including mental health and crisis resolution services.

Louisiana faces a similar dilemma, with the DOGE website indicating $55 million in cuts, though state officials believe the figure to be closer to $10 million. Karen Stubbs, an assistant secretary at the Louisiana health department, mentioned efforts to find alternative funding sources.