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DOGE sets sights on cutting waste from Social Security Administration
Social security is the latest target of the Department of Government Efficiency’s push to significantly cut down government spending.
Fox – 32 Chicago
- Cuts will affect wellness programs, tick-borne prevention and education, child health clinic supplies, health inspection personnel and salaries for two health department workers.
RIDGEWOOD — The village stands to lose $169,517 in health care grants that support about 34 programs as a result of a nationwide federal funding purge, officials said.
Village Manager Keith Kazmark said his office received an email about the cuts at 5 p.m. on Friday from the state, which administers the grants.
“To say we are frustrated is an understatement,” Kazmark said on Thursday. “This is primarily public health grant funding that was allocated post-COVID to run public outreach programs in the aftermath of the pandemic. These programs just earned us the Mayor Wellness Campaign ‘Healthy Town for 2024’ award, the highest designation. Without grant funding to staff the programs, this achievement would not have been possible.”
Last week, the federal Health and Human Services Administration announced $11 billion in funding cuts for public health initiatives. They contend taxpayer dollars were being wasted on costs associated with a “non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago.” Under the direction of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, emphasis is being shifted away from public health initiatives such as vaccinations to focus on processed foods and exercise.
New Jersey has joined a 23-state lawsuit challenging the cuts, contending the funds were allocated to bolster state and local government health support systems that initially proved inadequate to contain COVID-19. Since then funds have been used to track and contain similar spreading illnesses such as such as bird flu, flu, RSV and measles outbreaks.
“This was an arbitrary and capricious decision made in Washington, with no understanding or concern as to how this impacts public health programing and the people in a town like Ridgewood,” said Mayor Paul Vagianos.
Kazmark said the cuts will affect the Enhancing Local Public Health Infrastructure, which stands to lose $27,466 due through June 30. The following cuts are expected:
- $5,450 for employee wellness programming;
- $4,538 for supplies for tick-borne disease prevention, such as Lyme disease outreach and education;
- $1,047 for public health nurses’ monthly child health clinic supplies;
- $16,431 for salary and benefits for two full-time health department staff that focus on community outreach, education, and programming.
Kazmark said more cuts are expected to affect the Sustaining Local Public Health Infrastructure, which is expected to lose $142,051 through March 2026, including:
- $24,950 for part-time registered environmental health specialist assisting full time specialist with health inspections for 164 food establishments, 55 cosmetology establishments, 42 school, church, and club establishments, five dry cleaners, eight seasonal mobile ice cream trucks, 11 farmer’s market vendors, 23 school events and seven one day special events.
- $117,101 for salary and benefits for two full-time health department workers who focus on community outreach, education, and programming.
Of the 34 programs, 23 are run by the affected health education staff, with 11 others run in cooperation with The Valley Hospital and Ridgewood Public Library.