MDH Announces Layoffs and Reduced Public Health Services

April 3, 2025

The recently terminated federal grants by the Trump administration could affect hundreds of Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) employees, as well as public health services for Minnesotans.   

On April 1, MDH sent layoff and separation notices to 170 employees whose positions were funded by the federal grants. Additionally, “at risk” notices are being sent to additional MDH staff who could be laid off.  Plus, nearly 20 employees scheduled to start with the department in the last week have had their offers rescinded.   

These layoffs and separations are a result of the federal government’s decision last week to cut more than $220 million in previously approved federal funding. These layoffs and separations will impact services across the agency that Minnesotans rely on, including those that support the state’s response to measles and H5N1, wastewater surveillance, the state’s public health laboratory, and community clinics and vaccination efforts.   

“We are working now to figure out how much of this critical public health work we can save and continue,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Brooke Cunningham, MD, PhD. “The sudden and unexpected action from the federal government left us with no choice but to proceed with layoffs immediately.” 

The impact of the cuts to the state’s public health system also include: 

• Significantly reduced support for nursing homes, including funding for HVAC upgrades and staff training around disease prevention, as well as support for county jails and other congregate settings.   

• Slower response times to infectious disease outbreaks.   

• Immediate suspension of partner-led vaccine clinics and emergency preparedness activities.   

• Reduced laboratory support for hospitals and healthcare systems that could delay lab results and patient care.   

• An inability to upgrade the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection, the state’s immunization information system, which means it will remain outdated.   

• Suspension of the INSPIRE Program, a program to get middle and high school students interested in public health.   

• Reduced funding for Tribal Public Health.