WASHINGTON, D.C. — A group of Florida House Democrats is urging President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Cheryl Kennedy to reverse the sudden termination of nearly $2.5 billion in federal public health grants to the state of Florida.
In a joint letter sent this week, Representatives Lois Frankel (FL-22), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Darren Soto (FL-09), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) expressed deep concern over what they described as a “dangerous and disruptive” funding cut. The lawmakers warned that this rollback threatens critical health services not only in Florida but across the country.
“These grants support vital public health initiatives, including childhood immunizations, infectious disease control, mental health programs, and HIV prevention and treatment,” the representatives wrote. “Public health should never be a casualty of political ideology.”
The letter criticized the decision as politically motivated and detrimental to years of bipartisan efforts in health research and community care. The cuts are reportedly part of a broader nationwide reduction in public health funding initiated by the administration.
The lawmakers called on the administration to conduct an immediate review and restore the terminated grants, asserting that communities throughout Florida depend on these resources for life-saving treatment and preventive care.
“Our communities are counting on you to help them provide life-saving research, treatment, and care,” the letter concluded.
The full letter is available [here].
