CDC funding uncertainty halts BRACE-funded climate-and-health spending; coalition activity at risk

State public-health staff told the Connecticut Climate and Health Coalition on a July virtual call that uncertainty at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is forcing a pause on BRACE-funded climate-and-health work and could halt coalition activities if the CDC cannot disburse funds by the end of August. Hannah, a program staffer at the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s Office of Climate and Health, said the agency paused climate-and-health spending after several grants were terminated and because the CDC is sending appropriated funds in short, 30-day installments rather than full grant disbursements. “They’re basically receiving 30 day installments at a time, and that's to cover personnel and staff. And they’re not able to send that money out the door to grant holders,” Hannah said. The state paused spending on grants considered vulnerable to recoupment and has held back BRACE-funded activities to avoid spending money that might later need to be returned, Hannah said. She described staff reductions and turnover at the CDC and said the climate-and-health program remains “really vulnerable.” The coalition was warned that an August funding milestone could force immediate changes: “If we don’t receive BRACE grant funding in by the August, the one thing I know that will definitely occur is BRACE-funded activities will cease,” Hannah said. She said some partnerships—such as planned contracting relationships with academic partners—could continue informally, but the coalition would no longer operate as a BRACE-funded or BRACE-affiliated group until funding resumes. Discussion on the call stressed that the state agency’s climate priorities have not changed, but program activity and formal contracting depend on federal grant flows. Hannah said the agency was hopeful for CDC guidance “in the next few days” but that timing remained “very uncertain.” This was a discussion update; no formal motions or votes were taken. Staff described actions as precautionary spending freezes and contingency planning rather than permanent program terminations. Coalition members asked how to sustain the group’s work if federal BRACE support lapses. Hannah said the department would explore alternative funding avenues and use existing connections to convene stakeholders informally if necessary. She asked members to raise concerns or suggestions directly with her and the coalition’s coordinators. Context and next steps: The CDC BRACE (Building Resilience Against Climate Effects) program is a federal funding stream many states use for climate-and-health preparedness. On this call, DPH staff said appropriated funds were available at the federal level but were not being distributed normally because the CDC was operating without a full budget allocation and issuing short-term installments. The coalition will watch an August funding milestone closely; organizers said they will update members if the situation changes.