1146: Budget Battles and Capitol Hill Updates

Federal funding, workforce capacity, grant administration, and the future of public health programs are all under scrutiny in Washington.  ASTHO senior analyst for government affairs, Catherine Jones, breaks down Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s FY27 budget hearings, where lawmakers examined proposed reductions to HHS funding and questioned how cuts to public health programs align with the administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda. Catherine discusses concerns surrounding maternal and child health, data collection, environmental health, workforce reductions, rural health needs, and the long-term implications for public health infrastructure.  Then, ASTHO vice president of government affairs, Jeffrey Ekoma, reviews a recent Legislative Alert. He explains developments in congressional appropriations, pending public health leadership nominations, proposed changes to federal grant regulations, and the possibility of another reconciliation package before the end of the year. He also shares what state and territorial health officials should be watching as Congress navigates funding decisions and prepares for a post-midterm legislative landscape.Congressional Hearings Feature Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., on FY27 Budget: April 2026 | ASTHOStrengthening Academic Health Department Partnerships: Workforce Pathways in CaliforniaSafe States Annual Conference - Safe States Alliance