In addition to widespread discounts in front of the employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Trump administration asked the agency to reduce $ 2.9 billion of its spending on contracts, according to three federal officials on the awareness of the issue.
The cost reduction program in the administration, which is called by the Ministry of Governmental efficiency, asked the Public Health Agency to cut nearly 35 percent of its spending on contracts about two weeks ago. The Center for Disease Control was said to comply by April 18, according to officials.
These discounts are more subscribers in nuts that already reeling the loss of 2,400 employees, or nearly five of their work force.
On Tuesday, the administration launched that the scientists of the Center for Diseases Control focused on environmental health and asthma, injuries, prevention of violence, bullet poisoning, smoking and climate change.
“Reducing contracts is a” strategic initiative “in all departments of the Ministry of Health and Humanitarian Services,” with the aim of reducing unnecessary spending, providing taxpayers dollars and simplification operations.
“Every agency inside HHS is committed to reducing the expenses of the contract through this goal,” she said. “These cuts are designed to ensure that each dollar is used more efficiently while continuing to focus on our basic mission of improving public health and services.”
Tom Engelbe, director of the Johns Hopkins Health Security Center at the Bloomberg College of Public Health, which advised the Biden administration during Kovid, said that reducing 35 percent of contracts would be difficult for any organization or business.
“Certainly, any manager can find small savings and improvements, but these types of demands are the size and speed that breaks the organizations,” he said. “This is not the way to do good for the public or the health of the public.”
The largest contract in the Center for Disease Control, about $ 7 billion annually, moves to the children’s vaccine program, which buys vaccines for parents who may not be able to afford their costs.
This program is assigned under the law and will not be affected by discounts, according to a senior official that occurs, provided that his identity is not disclosed.
But other CDC contracts include spending on computers and other technology, security guards, cleaning services and facilities management. The agency also rented people to build and maintain data systems and specific research projects.
Over the past few years, contracts have also supported Covid-19 activities.
Separately, HHS last week stopped the sudden granting of about $ 11.4 billion to the states that were using money to track infectious diseases, support mental health services, addiction treatment and other urgent health problems.
It is not possible to implement at least some contracts because the people who supervise them have been rejected.
The administration recently requested the Center for Disease Control to cut scholarships to the University of Colombia and the University of Pennsylvania, saying that these institutions failed to take action against anti -Semitism on the campus.
“Financing grants and contracts is the mechanism in which we accomplish matters,” said one of CDC scholars, who asked not to be identified due to the fear of revenge.
“They cut our arms and legs.”