ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Health told an estimated 300 employees Tuesday, April 1, they were laid off or at risk of being laid off, citing federal funding cuts.
The health department said in a news release that 170 employees whose positions were funded by recently terminated federal grants were sent layoff notices. Around another 20 who were slated to start with the department in the last week have had their offers rescinded.
Additional "at risk" notices were sent to those at risk for layoffs due to seniority rules around layoffs, the agency said.
The layoffs are a direct consequence of the federal government's "unprecedented and unexpected" decision to cut more than $220 million in previously approved funding, MDH said.
The agency said staff cuts will impact:
- State's response to measles and H5N1
- Wastewater surveillance
- State's public health laboratory
- Community clinics and vaccination efforts
- Nursing homes, including funding for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades and staff training around disease prevention
- County jails and other congregate settings
- Response times to infectious disease outbreaks
- Partner-led vaccine clinics and emergency preparedness activities, which will be immediately suspended
- Upgrades to the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection, the state's immunization information system, which means it will remain outdated
- INSPIRE program, which gets middle and high school students excited about and interested in public health. The program will be suspended.
- Funding for tribal public health.
Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham said the agency is working to determine how much of its efforts it can save and continue.
"The sudden and unexpected action from the federal government left us with no choice but to proceed with layoffs immediately," she said in the release.
"It is devastating to be forced to reduce critical services and give notices to so many dedicated public health professionals because the federal government decided to renege on its commitment to our state. They left us in the lurch, with no advance notice, no close-out period, halting work that would have helped us address chronic gaps in the system and be better prepared for future threats.”
- Phenology report: How does spring 2025 compare to spring 2024?
- Events Up North April 22-27: Iron Range Earth Fest, Bemidji Chorale concert
- Minnesota Housing seeks public comment on its 2025 action plan for HUD
- DFLer Slipy to attend second SD6 forum; GOP's Heintzeman declines
- MN Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy on constituent concerns, budget