The Tuscarawas County Health Department is facing a significant funding loss following an unexpected change to the end date of several federal public health grants, Health Commissioner Katie Seward announced Monday.
In a letter to the community, Seward said the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) notified local officials on March 25 that the project end date for numerous federally funded public health initiatives had been moved up from Dec. 31, 2025, to March 24, 2025. The abrupt change, made without prior warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has triggered a nationwide suspension of work on associated projects.
Tuscarawas County is expected to lose approximately $250,000 in funding as a result of the rescinded grants. The funds were earmarked for department renovations, free respiratory virus testing, distribution of prevention resources, and broader infection control efforts.
“The abrupt withdrawal of federal funding will hinder Ohio’s capacity to monitor disease trends, upgrade data systems, respond to outbreaks, and ensure access to immunizations, outreach, and education,” Seward said. “This situation will particularly affect communities in rural Ohio.”
The CDC’s $11.4 billion cut in national public health funding coincides with a broader restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the President’s Executive Order on government efficiency. In a controversial statement, HHS declared, “The COVID-19 pandemic is over,” and said the agency would no longer spend taxpayer money on pandemic-related responses.
Seward pushed back on that message, citing data from the World Health Organization that shows more than 7 million people worldwide have died from COVID-19, including nearly 45,000 in Ohio and more than 560 in Tuscarawas County.
“Certainly, while the current narrative of the federal government dismisses the acknowledgment of the pandemic, it remains an undeniable reality for numerous individuals, including those of us working in public health,” she said.
She also pointed out that Ohio ranked 48th in public health funding prior to the pandemic and said rural counties like Tuscarawas face disproportionate challenges due to fragile healthcare infrastructure, lower vaccination rates, and higher disease burdens.
Locally, the funding cut will delay planned laboratory expansions, reduce long-term care infection control efforts, and halt state-level wastewater testing — a key tool in monitoring virus outbreaks. It comes at a time when the county is already contending with a growing measles outbreak and concerns over avian influenza.
Despite the setback, Seward said the department remains committed to its mission.
“Although the reduction of resources for community services is troubling, we remain committed to safeguarding and enhancing the health of our residents,” she said. “Our resilience has enabled us to overcome challenges in the past.”
The health department will continue to update the public on any changes to programs or services as more information becomes available.
