I need your help. The President has illegally terminated millions of dollars being used to help health departments fight Measles and Bird Flu and protect public health. If this illegal act isn't stopped, many people (myself included) could be out of work instead of protecting the public's health and well-being. Please click on the link to send a report to your representatives requesting the restoration of the funds protecting all of us. It will just take a minute, but it will make a world of difference
https://njaccho.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=317722&module_id=500406#/
Done
Public Health Funding Cuts
On Monday, March 24th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a series of stop work orders to cancel grant agreements for agencies throughout the Unites States, totaling $11B. A detailed list of grants, state and local agencies has not been released. However, funding that is connected to immunizations, epidemiology and lab capacity, COVID health disparities and community health workers has been identified, and may include funds being distributed by the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials (NJACCHO) to New Jersey local health departments.
New Jersey's local health departments depend on these grants to support disease prevention, outbreak response, vaccination and clinical services. These funds also help local health departments maintain their workforce, increase community services and plan for the next public health emergency or event. The work being funded is not limited to just COVID-19, but activities that will help us support and prepare for large scale events, such as the World Cup, which will draw in millions of international visitors to our region. Our local health departments and communities will face significant workforce and operational challenges if these funds are taken away.
There are DEEP concerns about the potential impact stop work orders will have on local health departments and local communities. These federal funds have helped to support important community programs, staff infrastructure investments, upgrade data systems and get communities better prepared.
The above is from the organization's home page. The presence of the word "may" (highlighted in bold face type) is all-important. Bob
Bob, that was put up PRIOR to the grant termination notice going out late Friday.
Now we know it impacts ALL public health grants being provided with money that Congress had already approved.
Edit to add: The link can get you to any reps, but the message is NJ-based. The funding cuts are impacting all states, not just NJ
Most of the food banks that feed so many veterans, among others, have been slashed
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/food-banks-usda-cuts-tciiyd8f
What's the possible reason for this? Some one cheat ed and received 2 dozen eggs instead of one?
Quote from: LennG on March 29, 2025, 12:19:50 PMMost of the food banks that feed so many veterans, among others, have been slashed
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/food-banks-usda-cuts-tciiyd8f
What's the possible reason for this? Some one cheat ed and received 2 dozen eggs instead of one?
I heard that in some of my meetings. We are living in dark times, very dark times
The impacts are very real, here in Arizona, as not only tens of thousands of jobs are at stake, but the impacts it will have on all of us, to include our Navajo Nation friends, is devastating.
Federal government terminates $190M in public health grants to Arizona (https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2025/03/29/arizona-loses-190m-federal-public-health-grants/82712391007/)
I'm going to sign the equivalent for my representatives here in Arizona and keep you in my thoughts and prayers, Rich
@MightyGiants .
Peace!
Quote from: kartanoman on March 30, 2025, 12:21:49 PMThe impacts are very real, here in Arizona, as not only tens of thousands of jobs are at stake, but the impacts it will have on all of us, to include our Navajo Nation friends, is devastating.
Federal government terminates $190M in public health grants to Arizona (https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2025/03/29/arizona-loses-190m-federal-public-health-grants/82712391007/)
I'm going to sign the equivalent for my representatives here in Arizona and keep you in my thoughts and prayers, Rich @MightyGiants .
Peace!
There are similar terrible stories in all 50 states
I thought we didn't do politics here.
Quote from: AZGiantFan on March 31, 2025, 04:01:35 PMI thought we didn't do politics here.
Thank you for your help. It's good to see there are good people I can turn to when I (and many others) are in desperate need
Quote from: AZGiantFan on March 31, 2025, 04:01:35 PMI thought we didn't do politics here.
It's political but it isn't. It's about politics negatively affecting people's livelihoods nationwide.
The reason politics is banned as a topic is because it divides. This isn't one of those divisive situations.
Quote from: T200 on March 31, 2025, 11:47:22 PMIt's political but it isn't. It's about politics negatively affecting people's livelihoods nationwide.
The reason politics is banned as a topic is because it divides. This isn't one of those divisive situations.
Tim,
I agree. I think too often we get swept up in politics like it's a sporting event, and it's all about your side winning against the other side. We tend to forget real people are suffering real harm in many cases. We need to never forget this critical aspect, or else we lose the best part of being human.
Quote from: MightyGiants on April 01, 2025, 08:57:32 AMTim,
I agree. I think too often we get swept up in politics like it's a sporting event, and it's all about your side winning against the other side. We tend to forget real people are suffering real harm in many cases. We need to never forget this critical aspect, or else we lose the best part of being human.
Agreed. This isn't a finger-pointing, back-and-forth blaming situation, which political discussions quickly devolve into.
There's a sliver of hope that this terrible thing could be reversed
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/health/public-health-funding-states-sue-hhs-rfk/index.html
For those who reached out to your representatives to help reverse this, thank you
Another sliver of hope
PROVIDENCE – A federal judge said Thursday she will grant a temporary restraining order requested by attorneys general and governors in 24 states that will keep in place for now the nearly $11 billion in public health grants – including $31 million for Rhode Island – that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services canceled last week.
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/courts/2025/04/03/federal-judge-grants-temporary-restraining-order-to-halt-hhs-cuts/82794782007/
For what it's worth, the grant myself and my wife have been working on in the past 5 years was federally funded and abruptly cut on Feb 19th. I'm also deeply embedded in our local school system and the worries about the trickle down chaos on kids based on the Dept of Ed being next on the list are real.
I for one have no problems with regularly finding efficiencies in government, but that's not what is happening. It's slash and burn with very little understanding of the actual work being done.
Sorry to hear you're also caught up in the whirlwind, Rich.
Quote from: PSUBeirut on April 04, 2025, 09:28:31 PMFor what it's worth, the grant myself and my wife have been working on in the past 5 years was federally funded and abruptly cut on Feb 19th. I'm also deeply embedded in our local school system and the worries about the trickle down chaos on kids based on the Dept of Ed being next on the list are real.
I for one have no problems with regularly finding efficiencies in government, but that's not what is happening. It's slash and burn with very little understanding of the actual work being done.
Sorry to hear you're also caught up in the whirlwind, Rich.
I am sorry to hear that. I completely agree, this is slash and burn, not surgical removal of waste.
As a federal government civilian, DOGE's Ginsu Sledgehammer has reached the Department of Defense. I have been notified that I am eligible to apply for the deferred resignation program and early retirement. I qualify and applied for both.
Problem is, if I am approved, the organization loses my position and it will not be backfilled. The duties and responsibilities will be absorbed by those who remain. As the sole network manager/engineer, I have direct control over the network devices that service our 300 employees and network-connected servers and storage. Losing this position means that any connectivity issues won't be handled immediately - a ticket will have to be opened with the remote helpdesk and a technician at another facility will have to troubleshoot the issue. Much of the work we do here is time-sensitive and the docs can't afford to wait 20-30 minutes, or longer, to have an issue resolved.
My supervisor and the director have submitted a mission-critical exemption request to deny my resignation/retirement. Unfortunately, it's only delaying the inevitable because I was already planning to retire in April 2027.
Quote from: T200 on April 21, 2025, 02:27:17 PMAs a federal government civilian, DOGE's Ginsu Sledgehammer has reached the Department of Defense. I have been notified that I am eligible to apply for the deferred resignation program and early retirement. I qualify and applied for both.
Problem is, if I am approved, the organization loses my position and it will not be backfilled. The duties and responsibilities will be absorbed by those who remain. As the sole network manager/engineer, I have direct control over the network devices that service our 300 employees and network-connected servers and storage. Losing this position means that any connectivity issues won't be handled immediately - a ticket will have to be opened with the remote helpdesk and a technician at another facility will have to troubleshoot the issue. Much of the work we do here is time-sensitive and the docs can't afford to wait 20-30 minutes, or longer, to have an issue resolved.
My supervisor and the director have submitted a mission-critical exemption request to deny my resignation/retirement. Unfortunately, it's only delaying the inevitable because I was already planning to retire in April 2027.
I am sorry to hear that, Tim
Things are so so so so messed up these days.
Quote from: MightyGiants on April 21, 2025, 02:33:58 PMI am sorry to hear that, Tim
Things are so so so so messed up these days.
Hardly surprising.
Quote from: MightyGiants on April 21, 2025, 02:33:58 PMI am sorry to hear that, Tim
Things are so so so so messed up these days.
I'm all for streamlining the federal government and eliminating waste. There's a smart way to go about it. This ain't that.
That cruise ship is waiting on us buddy. Get an early start
Quote from: LennG on April 21, 2025, 08:09:57 PMThat cruise ship is waiting on us buddy. Get an early start
Just waiting to get the word!
Quote from: T200 on April 21, 2025, 02:50:41 PMI'm all for streamlining the federal government and eliminating waste. There's a smart way to go about it. This ain't that.
The problem is that the "smart" way has resulted in no streamlining and no elimination of waste.
Quote from: AZGiantFan on May 06, 2025, 02:59:27 PMThe problem is that the "smart" way has resulted in no streamlining and no elimination of waste.
The problem is that people with little to no knowledge of how governments work push the streamlining and waste narrative.
The problem is taking a chainsaw to a problem that needed a scalpel, which has needlessly harmed many millions of Americans.
Cutting thousands of IRS agents COST the government 159 billion over 10 years. Now, unlike the tariffs, this isn't a new tax on the American people, it's just making sure everyone pays their fair share.
Quote from: AZGiantFan on May 06, 2025, 02:59:27 PMThe problem is that the "smart" way has resulted in no streamlining and no elimination of waste.
Then it wasn't the "smart" way. I've worked for the Department of Defense in some capacity (civilian, military member, contractor) for almost 40 years. There is FW&A. Mr. Magoo could find it.
What I find troubling is the change in our nation over my 60+ years on the planet. For most of the years, there were always political differences and sides. What's changed is that one side seems indifferent (and in some cases, not seen here, actually seems to enjoy) the suffering and wronging of their fellow Americans. So, how political discourse has taken part in what makes people human, empathy, and caring, now I would say it's fair that what I described can be seen on both sides, I guess the difference is that only one side has enacted policies that have caused objective harm to Americans and the reactions of many who enabled or supported those harmful policies.