ILLINOIS (WAND) — The Illinois Department of Public Health is evaluating how they will make ends meet after the Trump Administration terminated grants and rescinded funds to the tune of nearly $450 million. 

The department said that the termination pulls back $125 million in funding for IDPH and 97 local public health departments, which had been allocated by IDPH for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Disease program and other uses.

The Administration is also blocking $324 million for future work to prevent and treat infectious diseases in Illinois. 

IDPH Director Sameer Vohra says that the loss of the funds will be felt state-wide.

"When federal cuts like this come, there isn't often a lot of opportunity on the state side...that federal money is really a critical lifeline to the state and our local public health departments. And we're going to feel the challenges that this funding cut will provide,"said Vohra.

These funds were originally allocated for pandemic-era grants, but now, the IDPH uses them to expand their services.

Vohra continues, "After the pandemic was over, through our conversations with our federal partners, there was an understanding that there needed to be time to spend down this money to really work through and expand public health capacity -- to continue to work through COVID -- but also prevent future emergencies." 

He explained that in the 2025 fiscal year, 65% of the budget comes from the federal government.

The IDPH uses funds for things like expanding their lab capabilities to test and monitor diseases, investing in infectious disease tracking technology, and collaborating with community partners to distribute vaccines. 

Once the IDPH utilizes funds at a state level, they distribute funds to local health providers, so they too can expand their services.

"Money is passed down from the state level to our local partners in your communities, providing critical services like vaccinations and working in partnership for us so that we can understand the threats that are in local communities and figuring out those kind of preventative and response strategies when those outbreaks happen." Vohra explained. 

Vohra said that these budget cuts will greatly effect access to health services, especially on a local level. "Public health is often kind of that invisible shield, protecting you and your family today and preparing you for what awaits tomorrow."

Copyright 2025. WAND TV. All rights reserved.