CDC Reclaims $11.4 Billion in COVID Funds Amid Broader HHS Budget Cuts

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun pulling back $11.4 billion in COVID-19 relief funding that was originally distributed to state and local health departments, non-governmental organizations, and international health programs.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed the decision, noting that recipients began receiving notice of the funding reversal on Monday. Awardees will have 30 days to reconcile any expenditures and return unspent funds.

This significant financial rollback follows a series of cost-cutting moves under the direction of new HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has already canceled hundreds of millions of dollars in grants earmarked for research and outreach related to vaccine hesitancy, LGBTQ health, and HIV prevention.

Officials say the decision reflects a shift in federal strategy post-pandemic, but critics argue the sudden pullback could disrupt vital public health efforts still underway across the country and around the world.

The CDC has not publicly commented on how the reclaimed funds will be reallocated, and health departments are scrambling to assess the impact of the move on ongoing services and programs.

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