Congresswoman Simon Leads Colleagues in Demanding Trump Administration Restore Public Health Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Recently, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (CA-12) co-led 77 of her colleagues, including every Democratic Representative of the California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota delegations in demanding the Trump Administration to immediately restore public health grant funding to those states. This comes after the Administration terminated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants that support core public health infrastructure and disease prevention.

Congresswoman Simon co-led the effort to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with Representatives Doris Matsui (CA-07), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Nanette Barragan (CA-44), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Sean Casten (IL-06), and Brittany Pettersen (CO-07).

"Reports have indicated the Administration intends to cut tens of millions in public health funding to California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota," wrote the Members. "These cuts will unnecessarily hamstring our state and local public health departments and community organizations, putting our constituents' health at risk. We urge you to restore this funding immediately."

The funding cuts broadly target grants that support public health staffing, data modernization, and surveillance, as well as HIV and STI prevention programs, and health programs serving communities that have historically faced barriers to care. The Members warned these terminations would weaken states' ability to detect, contain, and respond to outbreaks, which is especially reckless during the current active measles outbreak. They argued the cuts target the core infrastructure public health relies on.

They also argued the move fits a broader pattern: President Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold federal support from Democratic led states and cities in moments of crisis, from social services to disaster relief. Now, they write, the Administration is again pulling back congressionally approved funds for political reasons, not public health needs.

The members demanded the following:

• A full list of terminated grants and grants under consideration to be cut in the coming weeks
• A rationale for why impacted grants are "inconsistent with agency priorities."
• What the Department's justification is for targeting grants only in California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota
• Whether the Department planning to rescind public health funding in additional states

"It is within your power to end this cycle of alarming actions to erode public health," the Members concluded. "We strongly urge you to reverse these terminations, as the real-world consequences for the health and safety of all Americans is at stake."

Full text of the letter is available HERE.

Congresswoman Simon has been a leader in health care access and public health. In October 2025, Congresswomen Simon, Kelly and Trahan demanded answersfrom the Department of Health and Human Services on the impact of the government shutdown on the development of and access to lifesaving, groundbreaking innovation. In September 2025, Congresswoman Simon called on Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to resign as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. You can find more on her work here.

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