Saturday, 22 February, 2025
President Donald Trump’s executive orders have begun to disrupt patient care across the United States, as some healthcare providers struggle to access critical federal funding, according to interviews with a dozen healthcare professionals and policy advocates.
Health facilities in Virginia and West Virginia told Reuters they had been forced to close primary care clinics or lay off staff due to funding shortages. Meanwhile, community health clinics in California and Virginia reported receiving termination notices for federal grants supporting HIV prevention programs.
Some funding cuts followed Trump administration directives to eliminate diversity, gender, and inclusion programs and officially recognize only two sexes—male and female. Other disruptions appear linked to a federal funding freeze, which was rescinded last week.
A Reuters analysis found that tens of billions of dollars in congressionally approved spending for programmes across industries, such as clean energy, remain frozen under various Trump administration orders.
"There is mass confusion. We expect that interruption will grow if there is not clarity from federal agencies in the coming hours and days," said David C. Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, an organisation representing providers of sexually transmitted disease prevention programmes and services. "This is money that pays for staff payroll, rent and healthcare supplies."
Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
VIRGINIA CENTERS SHUT
Three community health centres near Richmond, Virginia, were forced to shut down after federal funds used to pay staff salaries remained inaccessible since last week, said Virginia Community Healthcare Association spokesperson Joe Stevens.
As of Friday, another nine centres across Virginia also could not access federal funds but continued to see patients by tapping into reserve funds.
Funding Uncertainty Jeopardizes Care Access
"They will need money within the next week," said Stevens. "We don't know why some centers can access funds while others remain cut off."
In Virginia, community health centers serve approximately 400,000 patients, providing medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmaceutical, and substance use services. For much of the state’s rural areas, these centers are the only source of primary care, Stevens noted.
One clinic in southwestern Virginia remains unable to access federal funds, leaving its patients without nearby alternatives. The closest medical facility is more than an hour’s drive away, Stevens added.
Most providers regained access to Medicaid and grant funding once the spending freeze was lifted. However, some still report being cut off from essential payments covering medical, dental, prescription drug, and behavioral health services.
"The situation is changing moment by moment," said Alison Barkoff, a disability rights expert and professor of health law and policy at George Washington University.
Layoffs and Financial Strain in West Virginia
The Appalachian Center for Independent Living, based in Charleston, West Virginia, was without federal funding for over a week, forcing it to lay off three out of five employees.
Though the centre later regained funding and offered to rehire the laid-off staff, two of the three declined, citing financial instability, said Meredith Pride, the center’s executive director.
"We have no choice but to push forward and do whatever is necessary to keep the center running," Pride stated.
Late last week, some healthcare centers specializing in HIV prevention and transgender patient care received notices that their CDC-issued grants would be terminated. The letters cited Trump administration orders restricting diversity and gender identity programs, according to three grant recipients.
A CDC spokesperson redirected questions about the grants to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In Los Angeles, St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, a public health network serving South and Central LA, has been unable to access $746,000 of a $1.6 million grant meant for HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. The program serves about 500 transgender individuals at risk of HIV, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and hepatitis C.
"We have decided not to cut any programs despite threats from the federal government," said St. John’s President Jim Mangia.
St. John’s has joined a lawsuit filed by California’s attorney general challenging the funding cuts. Mangia added that he is seeking private funding to fill the gap.
Meanwhile, the LGBT Life Center in Norfolk, Virginia, received a letter stating that $6.3 million in funding—48% of its annual budget—would be terminated, said spokesperson Corey Mohr. The center provides medication and monitoring for 400 HIV patients.
"Eliminating HIV-related programming will drive up healthcare costs and worsen patient outcomes," Mohr warned. "If more patients develop acute symptoms, they will require more complex and expensive treatments."
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President Donald Trump’s executive orders have begun to disrupt patient care across the United States, as some healthcare providers struggle to access critical federal funding, according to interviews with a dozen healthcare professionals and policy advocates.
Health facilities in Virginia and West Virginia told Reuters they had been forced to close primary care clinics or lay off staff due to funding shortages. Meanwhile, community health clinics in California and Virginia reported receiving termination notices for federal grants supporting HIV prevention programs.
Some funding cuts followed Trump administration directives to eliminate diversity, gender, and inclusion programs and officially recognize only two sexes—male and female. Other disruptions appear linked to a federal funding freeze, which was rescinded last week.
A Reuters analysis found that tens of billions of dollars in congressionally approved spending for programmes across industries, such as clean energy, remain frozen under various Trump administration orders.
"There is mass confusion. We expect that interruption will grow if there is not clarity from federal agencies in the coming hours and days," said David C. Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, an organisation representing providers of sexually transmitted disease prevention programmes and services. "This is money that pays for staff payroll, rent and healthcare supplies."
Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
VIRGINIA CENTERS SHUT
Three community health centres near Richmond, Virginia, were forced to shut down after federal funds used to pay staff salaries remained inaccessible since last week, said Virginia Community Healthcare Association spokesperson Joe Stevens.
As of Friday, another nine centres across Virginia also could not access federal funds but continued to see patients by tapping into reserve funds.
Funding Uncertainty Jeopardizes Care Access
"They will need money within the next week," said Stevens. "We don't know why some centers can access funds while others remain cut off."
In Virginia, community health centers serve approximately 400,000 patients, providing medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmaceutical, and substance use services. For much of the state’s rural areas, these centers are the only source of primary care, Stevens noted.
One clinic in southwestern Virginia remains unable to access federal funds, leaving its patients without nearby alternatives. The closest medical facility is more than an hour’s drive away, Stevens added.
Most providers regained access to Medicaid and grant funding once the spending freeze was lifted. However, some still report being cut off from essential payments covering medical, dental, prescription drug, and behavioral health services.
"The situation is changing moment by moment," said Alison Barkoff, a disability rights expert and professor of health law and policy at George Washington University.
Layoffs and Financial Strain in West Virginia
The Appalachian Center for Independent Living, based in Charleston, West Virginia, was without federal funding for over a week, forcing it to lay off three out of five employees.
Though the centre later regained funding and offered to rehire the laid-off staff, two of the three declined, citing financial instability, said Meredith Pride, the center’s executive director.
"We have no choice but to push forward and do whatever is necessary to keep the center running," Pride stated.
Late last week, some healthcare centers specializing in HIV prevention and transgender patient care received notices that their CDC-issued grants would be terminated. The letters cited Trump administration orders restricting diversity and gender identity programs, according to three grant recipients.
A CDC spokesperson redirected questions about the grants to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In Los Angeles, St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, a public health network serving South and Central LA, has been unable to access $746,000 of a $1.6 million grant meant for HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. The program serves about 500 transgender individuals at risk of HIV, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and hepatitis C.
"We have decided not to cut any programs despite threats from the federal government," said St. John’s President Jim Mangia.
St. John’s has joined a lawsuit filed by California’s attorney general challenging the funding cuts. Mangia added that he is seeking private funding to fill the gap.
Meanwhile, the LGBT Life Center in Norfolk, Virginia, received a letter stating that $6.3 million in funding—48% of its annual budget—would be terminated, said spokesperson Corey Mohr. The center provides medication and monitoring for 400 HIV patients.
"Eliminating HIV-related programming will drive up healthcare costs and worsen patient outcomes," Mohr warned. "If more patients develop acute symptoms, they will require more complex and expensive treatments."
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