The White House calls the emergency fund created after September 11 a “waste.” Republican and Democratic states say this is necessary

Sacramento, California. — President Donald Trump’s move to cancel the federal disaster preparedness program has raised concerns among state health officials in both Republican-governed Texas and the Democratic stronghold of California.

he Hospital preparation program The HPP was created more than two decades ago after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, as well as the deadly anthrax attacks that occurred days later.

In the past 17 years, this fund has provided nearly $2.2 billion to… States, territories, cities and large entities To prepare health systems for future pandemics, cyberattacks, or tragedies with multiple casualties.

More recently, these resources have been used to combat bird flu that has plagued it About 70 people In the United States, it caused the death of at least one person and He’s still a threat. They have also been used to respond to crises caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, mass shootings, floods and heat waves.

However, Send the request to Congress Trump’s budget director, Russell Vought, suggests scrapping the program, arguing that it is “wasteful” and “lacks focus.” Eliminating it would allow states and cities to “adequately” fund their prevention plans, he added.

Right now, any action on the issue is paralyzed by the government shutdown, sparked by a partisan dispute over expiring health benefits. These subsidies help many 24 million beneficiaries Who purchase their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces.

Both Republican and Democratic states view hospital preparedness funding as indispensable and not easily replaced by local resources.

It’s an example of how the White House is trying Reducing the role of government In response to public health emergencies and natural disasters, the ability of state and local governments to rely on federal funds to meet the needs of residents has been weakened.

“The program is the primary source of state funding for disaster preparedness in hospitals, emergency medical services and other sectors of the health system,” explained Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Health Services.

Texas received more than $20 million from the HPP project this year, and Van Deusen noted that the state is unlikely to be able to cover the federal funding shortfall anytime soon since its budget is set to August 2027.

These funds help Texas health providers develop emergency plans and test hospitals’ ability to scale their crisis response, as well as facilitate the distribution of medical resources and patient care without overwhelming facilities.

The program, along with state funds, funds the state of Texas Emergency Medical Task Force (TX EMTF), which responded this year to deadly flooding and, in 2022, to the Uvalde school shooting, among many other emergencies.

Georgia, which received $13.5 million in 2025, “continues to monitor and plan for potential changes in future federal funding, while ensuring health forecasting efforts across the state remain robust and sustainable,” Public Health spokesman Eric Janes said.

A California health official described these funds as necessary to ensure local health systems are able to respond to emergencies beyond their usual capacity. Robert Barsanti, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health, said the program is the only federal fund aimed at preparing the health system for disasters.

“Without this funding, California risks losing critical emergency response infrastructure, weakening its ability to protect lives, maintain continuity of care and meet federal preparedness standards,” Barsanti said.

As the most populous state in the country, California receives the most money: nearly $29 million this year, while facing a huge budget deficit and maintaining constant recriminations with Trump administration officials.

The money is distributed among the state Department of Public Health, California Emergency Medical Services (which coordinates the state’s emergency medical system), health associations and about 60 local entities.

Los Angeles County, home to more than a quarter of the state’s population, received an additional $11 million, and the University of California system received $1.2 million.

Neither the White House nor the Strategic Preparedness and Response Administration — which administers the program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — nor the Office of Budget Management responded to repeated requests for comment on the proposed power and electricity cuts.

As stated New York Timesla Strategic Preparedness and Response Management Ha Visto 81% decrease in its employees over the past year. It is by far the largest staff reduction at the Department of Health and Human Services and part of a broader policy of layoffs in the federal government under Trump.

The Department of Health and Human Services has already delayed the distribution of this year’s program funds by about three months. It was supposed to be available starting in July, but most of the funds were not released until late September. And in the final days of the Biden administration, health officials wanted it Distribute quickly These resources are part of the national response to the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak.

The multi-month delay “is another example of how changes and uncertainties at the federal level are putting vital public health programs in New York State at risk,” said Cadence Acquaviva, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health. Acquaviva warned that despite the efforts of state health authorities, “delaying or canceling funding puts New Yorkers at significant risk in the event of a disaster or emergency.”

New York State received about $14 million and New York City more than $9 million.

Jim Leach, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Public Health, noted that the medical system needs this federal money to prepare for natural or man-made disasters, “beyond the ups and downs of any specific disease.”

Illinois and the city of Chicago together received $15 million from the program.

During emergencies, the federally funded Crisis Response Program “converts hundreds of Illinois hospitals, EMS and other health care facilities into one coordinated system,” Leach explained, adding that this coordination saves lives and public resources.

“If a natural disaster or infectious disease outbreak occurs, the state will not be able to respond quickly enough without HPP funds,” he said.