Federal Health Agency to Distribute Overdue Money for Countering Fentanyl and Other Substances, According to Staff Members

Federal Health Agency to Distribute Overdue Money for Countering Fentanyl and Other Substances, According to Staff Members

CDC Funding: Mixed Progress Amidst Ongoing Uncertainties

The funding status for various Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) programs is showing signs of improvement, but the road to full funding remains complex.

The Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program, crucial for addressing overdose deaths related to fentanyl, methamphetamines, and other substances, had its funding delayed but is now expected to be fully funded ahead of a key budget deadline[2][4]. Earlier reports indicated a withholding of $140 million essential to OD2A, which could have impacted states' ability to respond to overdose crises[4]. However, it appears that the situation has been resolved, with full funding imminent.

Programs for rape and domestic violence prevention, which were also affected by funding freezes, seem to have had their funding thawed and restored, allowing activities and staffing to continue[2][4]. Despite earlier staff reductions and budget uncertainties, these programs are currently fully staffed according to CDC sources[2].

However, several dozen other CDC program budget lines remain frozen by directive of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), mainly affecting the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion[2]. These include programs addressing tobacco use, nutrition, obesity, school health, inflammatory bowel disease, alcohol use, diabetes prevention, oral health, epilepsy, and others[2]. Funding for some injury prevention initiatives related to youth violence, adverse childhood experiences, firearm injury, and injury control research was also frozen[2].

The broader FY 2026 appropriations show the CDC receiving approximately $9.15 billion overall, which is a $50 million decrease from FY 2025[1]. Programs like the CDC’s Immunizations Program and Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative are funded at level amounts compared to the previous fiscal year[1]. Global health funding within CDC remains flat at around $693 million, including HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention efforts[3].

The funding landscape suggests a lack of cohesive overarching strategy, with some programs frozen despite being fully staffed and others fully funded despite prior cuts, likely reflecting internal policy and budgetary tensions during the transition from the Trump administration’s budget approach to the Senate appropriations process[2].

In some instances, the lack of funding has led to consequences. For example, a local health department in North Carolina had to lay off staff due to CDC funding delays. Without a pot of money to distribute, the CDC couldn't send out the notice of awards that state and local health departments need to be able to do their work.

Sharon Gilmartin, director of the Safe States Alliance, warns that the toll taken by the funding delays is not without consequence. She expresses concern about the possibility of repeating the funding issues in the future. The senior leader at the CDC also expresses confusion about the lack of overarching strategy behind the frozen funding and unfunded priorities.

Despite these challenges, the CDC senior leader has confirmed that most CDC programs, including OD2A, can continue. The CDC is waiting for $9 billion intended for the agency for fiscal year 2025, which, if released, could help alleviate some of the funding pressures.

References:

1. CDC FY 2026 Appropriations Bill Summary
2. CDC FY 2026 Appropriations Update
3. CDC Global Health Funding for FY 2026
4. OD2A Funding Update
5. The CDC's Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program, initially facing funding delays, is now expecting full funding ahead of a key budget deadline.
6. Reported withholding of $140 million, essential for OD2A, could have impacted states' response to overdose crises, but full funding now appears imminent.
7. Programs for rape and domestic violence prevention, affected by funding freezes, have had their funding thawed and restored.
8. Despite earlier staff reductions and budget uncertainties, these programs are now fully staffed, according to CDC sources.
9. Several dozen other CDC program budget lines remain frozen by OMB direction, primarily affecting the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
10. Funding has been frozen for programs addressing tobacco use, nutrition, obesity, school health, inflammatory bowel disease, alcohol use, diabetes prevention, oral health, epilepsy, and other health concerns.
11. Funding for some injury prevention initiatives related to youth violence, adverse childhood experiences, firearm injury, and injury control research was also frozen.
12. The CDC is currently receiving approximately $9.15 billion overall, a decrease of $50 million from FY 2025.
13. Programs like the CDC’s Immunizations Program and Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative are funded at level amounts compared to the previous fiscal year.
14. Global health funding within CDC remains flat at around $693 million, including HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention efforts.
15. The funding landscape suggests a lack of cohesive overarching strategy.
16. The lack of funding has led to consequences, such as a local health department in North Carolina having to lay off staff due to CDC funding delays.
17. Without a pot of money to distribute, the CDC couldn't send out the notice of awards that state and local health departments need to do their work.
18. Sharon Gilmartin, director of the Safe States Alliance, warns of the potential consequences of repeating the funding issues in the future.
19. The senior leader at the CDC also expresses confusion about the lack of overarching strategy behind the frozen funding and unfunded priorities.
20. Despite these challenges, the CDC senior leader has confirmed that most CDC programs, including OD2A, can continue.
21. The CDC is waiting for $9 billion intended for the agency for fiscal year 2025, which, if released, could help alleviate some of the funding pressures.
22. The mixed progress in CDC funding could impact medical-conditions, chronic-diseases, cancer, respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, eye-health, health-and-wellness, and fitness-and-exercise programs.
23. Funding freezes could also affect mental-health, nutrition, cardiovascular-health, and skin-conditions initiatives.
24. The lack of funding could create uncertainties in science, technology, artificial-intelligence, and data-and-cloud-computing industries.
25. In the retail sector, funding delays could impact entrepreneurship and business growth.
26. In transportation, funding shortages could lead to delays in infrastructure projects.
27. In the realm of cybersecurity, limited funds could compromise system safety in banking-and-insurance, home-and-garden, and personal-finance industries.
28. The lack of funding could affect education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and career-development programs.
29. In the entertainment industry, funding shortages could postpone movie-and-tv productions and impact artists and celebrities.
30. In the fashion-and-beauty and food-and-drink industries, funding delays could lead to slower innovations and product launches.
31. In the finance industry, funding shortages could impact investments in ESG, cbd, and other sectors.
32. Limited funds could affect research and innovation within the manufacturing and energy industries.
33. In the healthcare industry, funding delays could impact medical-conditions research and treatments for chronic-diseases, cancer, respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, eye-health, mental-health, cardiovascular-health, and skin-conditions.
34. The lack of funding in the healthcare industry could also impact lifestyle choices, mental well-being, and overall quality of life, including pets, travel, cars, books, and social-media.

Read also: