Pappas Continues to Raise the Alarm on Destructive Impact of Trump Administration’s Cuts to Public Health Funding, Freeze on Federal Grants for New Hampshire

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) held a roundtable conversation with leaders of Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC) to discuss how the Trump administration’s severe cuts to public health funding and freeze on federal grants is hurting New Hampshire service providers and vulnerable Granite Staters that rely on them.Roundtable participants included CAPSC CEO Betsey Andrews Parker, Chief Program Officer Jamie Swan, Chief Financial Officer Leslie Craigen, Chief Advancement Officer John Moynihan, Interim Head Start Director Charna Aversa, and Family Service Director Tanisha Johnson.

The Trump administration is clawing back $80 million for New Hampshire health services, from public health infrastructure to mental health and substance use disorder treatment, in addition to the federal funding and grants freeze that the administration implemented. As a result, New Hampshire service providers like CAPSC face uncertainty on the future of their ability to serve those in need, must pause affordable housing projects, and face cuts to programs and staff. 

“Access to services ranging from life-saving health care, including mental health and addiction treatment, and even heating assistance and early childhood education, is being put at risk by this administration's severe cuts to our state’s public health funding and their freeze on federal grants. If this continues, it will have a disastrous impact on those in our community who need help the most,” said Congressman Pappas. “For Community Action Partnership of Strafford County alone, this threatens a Family Resource Center, it means 93 affordable housing units that were being planned will not be built, it will upend our child care and Head Start workforce, and it holds back the creation of new jobs. I will continue to stand with New Hampshire families, our communities, and local service providers and fight for the resources they need.”

“We appreciate the Congressman taking the time to discuss the potentially devastating cuts to our LiHEAP and Head Start programs.  In Strafford County, over 2,500 households are at risk of losing essential fuel assistance next winter.  254 children would lose access to school readiness programs, nutritious meals, health and dental screenings and so much more.  I do not believe people fully understand the deep impact eliminating these programs will have in Strafford County,” said Betsey Andrews Parker, CEO of Community Action Partnership of Strafford County.

Grants utilized by CAPSC that are at risk include:

• Head Start grants to provide early childhood education and strengthen the child care workforce;
• Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to help low-income families pay their energy bills and keep the heat on;
• Continuum of Care grants to provide housing assistance and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness;
• Permanent Supportive Housing grants to provide housing assistance and supportive services to households with a family members with a disability;
• Domestic Violence (DV) Rapid Rehousing (RRH) grants to provide housing support for victims of domestic violence; and
• Fatherhood - Family-focused, Interconnected, Resilient, and Essential (Fatherhood FIRE) grants to provide resources for their Family Resource Center and support for responsible parenting.

Background: 

Immediately following President Trump’s announcement of his federal funding and grant shutdown, Pappas released a statement condemning this decision, highlighting the harmful impact it would have on local fire and police departments, small businesses, and service providers across New Hampshire, and urged for its reversal. Pappas joined the New Hampshire Congressional delegation for a virtual press conference with local organizations and community leaders. 

In response to the Trump administration’s cancellation of over $12 billion in federal public health grants for state health services, Pappas led 50 of his House colleagues in urging the restoration of these funds for states and community health departments. Pappas and the New Hampshire delegation called on HHS Secretary Kennedy to restore the state’s $80 million in federal funding for public health infrastructure, mental health services, and substance use disorder treatment. 

Pappas led 89 of his colleagues in calling for the protection of the LIHEAP and the rehiring of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) staff who manage the program that were fired.