Massachusetts Governor Healey Agreed to Cut $3M for HIV/AIDS/Hep C

Some on Beacon Hill have been squawking recently about what federal funds might be cut by President Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk.

A Boston.com headline blurted the bad news: "Trump Administration abruptly cuts billions from state health services."

The story explains, "The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has abruptly canceled more than $12 billion in federal grants that were being used for tracking infectious diseases, mental health services, addiction treatment, and other urgent health issues."

Boston.com proclaims the cuts "are likely to further hamstring state health departments."

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Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued a statement threatening action.

"We will continue to assess the full impacts and are in touch with the Attorney General's Office and the 49 other states facing similar challenges," she said.

If you spend a few minutes researching this, you'll discover that the grants were issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Associated Press quoted a statement from HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon on why the grants are being discontinued: "The COVID-19 pandemic is over and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago."

Healey's protest may seem odd since she signed the budget approved by the Massachusetts Legislature that is responsible for significant healthcare funding reductions for this fiscal year.

State House News Service (SHNS) reported that $3 million in public funds was cut from the FY2025 budget for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C testing and prevention.

"Budget writers decreased the line item that funds testing, prevention, and treatment for a range of infectious diseases, including for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, sexually transmitted infections, Monkey Pox, and COVID-19 from $35 million in fiscal 2024 to $32 million in fiscal 2025m," SHNS reported.

The cuts also impact HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis C programs in county jails and the Syringe Service Program.

"Advocates were on Beacon Hill on Thursday knocking on doors and asking legislators and staff to restore that funding in the unfolding budget cycle," according to SHNS.

There is been no word yet as to whether the appeal was effective.