Public Health warns heavy federal funding exposure; seeks $13.7M in unmet requests for gender, DV and emergency response

Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH), told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 24 that roughly three‑quarters of the department’s FY 2025–26 budget depends on state and federal funds and that proposed policy and funding changes at the federal level pose an immediate and serious risk to county public health programs.

DPH overview and federal risk Ferrer told the board DPH’s recommended total budget is about $1.8 billion and that approximately 41% of that is federal funding and 34% is state funding (much of which is federally sourced). “The proposals contemplated by the new administration would result in a significant reduction in federal support,” Ferrer said, adding that more than 1,600 DPH employees currently are supported by federal funds and that 66% of federal funds the department received in the prior year were distributed to community partners.

Unmet needs and board‑directed priorities DPH presented a list of $13.7 million in unmet needs (board priorities and motions) that span two years and include both pilot initiatives and ongoing requests. Ferrer highlighted several requests the department categorized as critical: - Transgender, Gender‑expansive and Intersex (TGI) Wellness and Equity pilot: $3,500,000 over 2 years to strengthen TGI‑serving organizations and close gaps in services (requested per 12/26/2024 board motion establishing the initiative). - Gender impact assessment implementation: $125,000 (one‑time) for a gender equity subject matter expert to support countywide adoption (per a 07/09/2024 board motion). - Gender‑based violence prevention: $1,650,000 ongoing to support prevention programming, policy collaboration and community grants (12/05/2023 motion focus). - Domestic violence: $2,900,000 ongoing to provide services and legal aid to survivors who are ineligible for CalWORKs, plus two supporting Office of Women’s Health positions (05/21/2024 motion follow‑up). - Hepatitis C treatment coordination in supported housing and jails: $441,000 ongoing to fund two DPH positions and partner contracts (12/05/2023 motion). - Other priorities: Triage funding requests for tenant/landlord outreach tied to the pending Rental Housing Habitability Program, Genotype cluster investigation for tuberculosis, ongoing gun‑safety lock distribution (free firearm locks), and hotel/motel vouchers and shelter support for domestic violence survivors.

DPH also described the department’s emergency response posture and limitations: most DPH grant funding is restricted and cannot be repurposed for emergency work; DPH said it needs a dedicated, flexible funding source to respond rapidly to public health emergencies and to avoid service curtailments if federal/state funds decline.

Supervisors’ questions and response Board members asked about implementation details, how the department was notifying the public, and the timing of FEMA/reimbursement estimates for wildfire recovery. Ferrer said DPH will continue to coordinate through the CEO’s Office and OEM for federal reimbursement and will notify the board if federal funding is curtailed. Ferrer emphasized that public health must be treated as public safety because population health services are life‑saving and cannot be rationed by immigration status, gender identity or income.

Ending: Ferrer asked the board to consider DPH’s unmet needs and to support a contingency plan for sustaining essential services should federal/state funding streams be curtailed; she said DPH would continue to update the board as grant and reimbursement determinations become clearer.