Minnesota Dept. of Health laying off hundreds

Hundreds of employees at the Minnesota Department of Health are being laid off or told their positions are “at risk.”

According to MDH, 170 employees “whose positions were funded by recently terminated federal grants” were given layoff and separation notices Tuesday afternoon.

Health officials said additional “at risk” notices are going to MDH staff who may be laid off due to seniority rules. Close to 20 employees who were slated to start with the department in the last week had their offers rescinded.

The department estimated 300 notices went out to MDH employees on Tuesday.

About $220 million in federal funding was cut.

Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham said the federal government “left us in the lurch.”

“The sudden and unexpected action from the federal government left us with no choice but to proceed with layoffs immediately,” she said in a statement. “It is devastating to be forced to reduce critical services and give notices to so many dedicated public health professionals because the federal government decided to renege on its commitment to our state.”

MDH reports funding cuts will also result in:

• Significantly reduced support for nursing homes, county jails, and other congregate settings
• Slower response times to infectious disease outbreaks
• Immediate suspension of partner-led vaccine clinics and emergency preparedness activities
• Reduced laboratory support for hospitals and health care systems that could delay lab results and patient care
• An inability to upgrade the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection, the state’s immunization information system, which means it will remain outdated
• Suspension of the INSPIRE Program, a program to get middle and high school students excited about and interested in public health
• Reduced funding for Tribal Public Health