What Kennedy’s HHS Cuts Mean for Your Health Department—and How to Lead Through It
- JoAnn Andrews
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
When U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a sweeping 26% reduction in discretionary funding—$94 billion in total—it sent shockwaves through local health departments across the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is set to lose $3.6 billion. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) may see $18 billion in cuts. These numbers aren’t just line items—they represent real threats to community programming, staffing, and essential health services.
Source: “Kennedy defends HHS budget cuts to House, Senate committees” Read full article: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/kennedy-defends-hhs-budget-cuts-house-senate-committees
What’s at Stake for Your Department?
Whether you’re updating your Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), finalizing your Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), or writing your next strategic plan, the ground has shifted beneath your feet.
As HHS restructures into the proposed Administration for a Healthy America, grant cycles and funding pathways will likely become more competitive—and more ROI-driven.
If your county still relies on outdated plans, limited data, or generic templates, this is your moment to pivot with purpose.
What You Can Do Now?
Ascendant Healthcare Partners is a NACCHO Affiliate Member and a designated Healthy People 2030 Champion. We help local health departments future-proof their planning and funding strategies with:
CHNA Development Aligned to the latest NACCHO MAPP 2.0 framework www.naccho.org/programs/public-health-infrastructure/performance-improvement/mapp
CHIP Finalization Based on Healthy People 2030 national objectives (www.health.gov/healthypeople)
Strategic Planning & Facilitation Focused on post-COVID resilience, inter-agency collaboration, and compliance readiness
Economic Impact Reports: Our exclusive Cost to the Community Analysis™ quantifies the dollars lost when chronic disease, mental health, and SDOH aren’t addressed—helping you prove ROI and protect your budget.
Why Act Before June 30?
Most local health departments operate on a July 1–June 30 fiscal calendar. That means the window is now open to:
✔ Finalize planning
✔ Allocate remaining funds
✔ Request proposals and contracts before year-end reviews
AHP is currently scheduling projects that launch July 1. To secure your timeline and avoid delays, we recommend submitting your proposal request no later than June 30.
CHNA Express Proposal → www.ascendanthp.com/express-chna
Strategic Plan Inquiry → www.ascendanthp.com/contact
Your role in local public health is critical. You’re being asked to do more with less—and the federal landscape isn’t making it easier.
That’s why we exist. Ascendant Healthcare Partners brings clarity, structure, and results to public health planning. We’re here to help you lead with confidence—not chaos.Let’s make this the year your plan gets funded, finished, and fully aligned with the future.
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