April 17, 2025
On April 14, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that layoffs made public earlier this month would be delayed because of a temporary restraining order issued by a federal district court in Rhode Island in State of Colorado, et al. v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, et al. on April 5.
“We are grateful for this action by the court, which we feel aligns with the federal government’s responsibility to us as a grantee,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Brooke Cunningham, MD, PhD. “This action has given us additional short-term certainty around this funding, which allows us to delay this layoff process slightly.”
Starting April 1, MDH sent layoff and separation notices to approximately 170 employees as a result of the recently terminated federal grants. With the time the temporary restraining order provided, MDH leadership was able to move the effective layoff date to May 13.
These layoffs are a direct consequence of the unexpected action by the federal government to revoke more than $220 million in previously approved federal funding.
August 28, 2025
The apparent removal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Susan Monarez, PhD, after just weeks on the job, further imperils the work of the CDC and the health of Americans. Her removal was followed by the resignations of other senior leaders at the CDC, who have accused HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of undermining scientific recommendations for vaccines.
August 26, 2025
University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham, MD, will speak at the Empowering Physicians: A Night of Learning & Connection event on Friday, September 26, from 4 to 9 pm, at the historic Hewing Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
August 26, 2025
America's physicians are seeing a rise in misinformation and disinformation from patients these days, and it’s impacting patient care, according to a new study from the Physicians Foundation.