Overview

• An adviser-led March decision ended more than $11 billion in public-health grants nationwide, with California losing nearly $1 billion and many awards originally funded through 2027.
• A federal judge ordered the money restored in May while California’s lawsuit proceeds, yet counties are still cutting services due to the risk they could be forced to repay the funds.
• Orange County shut emergency dental, children’s and family planning clinics, reduced support for new mothers, and faces $13.7 million in reductions plus another $4 million loss in October to obesity and food-insecurity efforts.
• Kern County closed a rural clinic, halted most mobile services, cut appointments at its Bakersfield site by 67%, and eliminated 35 positions after losing $12.5 million.
• Los Angeles County projects a $1.85 billion annual deficit by 2028–29 largely tied to Medicaid cuts, with leaders warning of possible thousands of layoffs and considering service consolidations despite no current plans to close a hospital.