Alabama’s top health official said in a report by the Trust for America’s Health that unpredictable federal funding and changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding vaccines will have ramifications for public health.
The report, released Thursday, encourages Congress to reinforce funding for public health in the fiscal year 2026 budget, which has not passed. The fiscal year begins in two weeks.
Dr. Scott Harris, Alabama’s public health officer, said public health work is usually done “behind the scenes.”
“We are doing things to keep people healthy that the public doesn’t know or think about. People go out to eat and don’t worry about getting sick or drink tap water and aren’t concerned about it being unsafe,” Harris said in an August interview with Trust for America’s Health. “The reason for all of these things is public health. When we lose the ability to do these things because our funding goes away, there will be negative consequences.”
Dr. Nadine Gracia, CEO and president of the public health policy nonprofit, said in a virtual press conference Wednesday proposed federal cuts to the CDC will directly impact communities. In President Donald Trump’s proposed FY26 budget, the CDC’s funding is cut 39%. About half of the cuts are in public health emergency preparedness, she said.