Trump Administration Targets California Health Funding

Proposed cuts would impact Bay Area public health systems and nonprofits.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Trump administration is planning to rescind tens of millions of dollars in grants already allocated across California, including to Bay Area public health systems and nonprofits. The cuts target roughly $600 million in funding across four Democratic-led states, with about two-thirds of the total being unspent money already allocated to California's state and local health departments.

Why it matters

These proposed cuts would threaten core public health functions that keep communities safe, from disease prevention and surveillance to outbreak response and data modernization. The funding supports vulnerable populations and protects public health for everyone in California.

The details

The planned cuts include a $7.5 million grant to the California Department of Public Health, $1.3 million for Alameda County, and several grants to the San Francisco Department of Public Health. The cuts also target programming across the Bay Area that aims to prevent the spread of diseases like HIV, as well as research at UCSF focused on LGBTQ communities.

  • The Trump administration has identified $600 million in cuts across four Democratic-led states, including California.
  • Roughly two-thirds of the $600 million targeted for cuts is unspent money that was already allocated to California's state and local health departments.

The players

Nancy Pelosi

Speaker Emerita of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing California's 12th congressional district.

Department of Health and Human Services

The federal agency that oversees the proposed funding cuts.

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What they’re saying

“This funding supports core public health functions that keep communities safe — from HIV prevention and disease surveillance to outbreak response and modernized data systems.”

— Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita (San Francisco Chronicle)

“These grants are being terminated because they do not reflect agency priorities.”

— Department of Health and Human Services Spokesman (New York Times)

What’s next

Pelosi said she plans to work alongside House members to restore the funding that was already authorized and appropriated by Congress.

The takeaway

The proposed cuts to California's health funding, which target Democratic-led states, raise concerns about the politicization of public health and the potential impact on vulnerable communities and critical public health functions across the Bay Area.