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Council Member Schulman questions DOHMH on federal funding changes
0:27:45
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Council Member Lynn Schulman inquires about the decrease in federal funding for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) in the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2026. Acting Commissioner Michelle Morse responds, explaining discrepancies in the numbers and providing details on the major federal grants received by DOHMH.
- DOHMH receives about $600 million in federal grants for FY 2025, primarily from CDC and HRSA
- Grants focus on public health surveillance, infectious disease outbreak prevention, and emergency preparedness
- Concerns raised about potential cuts due to the new federal administration's stance on public health funding
Lynn Schulman
0:27:45
In the preliminary plan, DOHMH's federal funding decreased by a hundred and 20 3 million dollars in fiscal twenty twenty six compared to last year's adopted budget due to the reduction of 30,500,000.0.
0:27:56
The city primarily received federal funding for h I c HIV services followed by environmental health and immunization services.
0:28:04
With the new federal administration, we are concerned that the city might lose part or even all of its federal dollars for health services.
0:28:11
Is the reduced budget due to the federal government's new policies or is it due to external factors?
Michelle Morse
0:28:17
Thank you for that question, chair.
0:28:19
I think the numbers that we have are slightly different than those.
0:28:23
However, the main difference in the budgets at this time is that some of our grant funding shows up and aligns a little bit differently than the current timeline for the budget numbers you mentioned.
0:28:37
And then also that city council designations are also loaded at a different time.
Lynn Schulman
0:28:42
So can you share that with us, the details of that?
0:28:45
If not now, if you can send that to us.
Michelle Morse
0:28:48
We'd be happy to follow-up.
Lynn Schulman
0:28:49
That would be very helpful, please.
0:28:51
Oh, I just before I go on, I wanna I recognize that we've been joined by council members Bacha and Mamorato.
0:28:59
Okay.
0:29:00
Is the reduced budget due to the federal government's oh I'm sorry.
0:29:04
What are the major federal grants that DOHMH receives for healthcare in fiscal twenty twenty five?
Michelle Morse
0:29:10
Thank you for that question.
0:29:11
This is an area of intensive focus and planning for us right now.
0:29:15
We have a total of about $600,000,000 in federal grants in FY twenty five.
0:29:22
Of those $600,000,000 in federal grants, the large majority are from the CDC and HRSA.
0:29:29
The large majority also is focused on public health surveillance, infectious disease outbreak prevention, and emergency preparedness.
0:29:38
So those funds are really core activities of the New York City Public Health Department, and we are very concerned that they may be at risk considering the new federal administration's posture towards public health and what they've said at least in the media about CDC funding.
0:29:55
However, at this time we have not been notified of any decreases to our existing federal funds or cuts to our current federal funds.