06/25/2025

Federal Judge's Ruling Impacts Columbus Health Department Funding

Recent federal funding cuts resulted in the termination of 11 infectious disease experts

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from clawing back public health funding from Columbus and three other communities. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday. It means the federal government must reinstate funding to Columbus, Nashville, Kansas City, Missouri and Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston.

Columbus joined the lawsuit against the administration in April after it learned Columbus Public Health would be losing $3.1 million. The federal funding cuts resulted in Columbus Public Health laying off 11 infectious disease workers. Columbus Public Health spokeswoman Kelli Newman said Wednesday it was too early to say how the court's ruling affects those positions.

In a statement, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said the decision allows local health departments to respond to infectious disease outbreaks.

Please select this link to read the complete article from WOSU.