FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laurie Laker
(c) 612-741-0662
laurie.laker@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – March 27, 2025 – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) is raising the alarm about devastating impacts that will come because of the $226 million federal funding cut to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). This funding loss threatens to create an immediate and significant public health crisis across our state.
As a leading voice of public health and patient advocacy in the state, the duty of nurse extends far beyond the bedside. Nurses are advocates for public health and committed to protecting our patients and the communities we serve. MNA nurses have a fundamental obligation to care for both the patients in our hospitals today and those who will eventually come through our doors due to these harmful cuts.
MDH and its workers – including MNA members – strive every day to protect public health, prevent disease, and ensure our communities have access to critical health services. Slashing a quarter of their budget and laying off hundreds of employees is a reckless decision that will leave Minnesotans more vulnerable to future health crises. The sudden freezing of these funds will harm not only the state’s budget but the livelihoods of our members.
MDH plays a vital role in keeping Minnesotans safe, from investigating complaints against unsafe healthcare facilities through the Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) to tracking and controlling infectious diseases through the Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control (IDEPC) Division. These devastating cuts will impact MDH’s ability to ensure safe drinking water, monitor air quality, and respond to environmental health threats. They will weaken programs that provide critical support for maternal and infant health, opioid overdose prevention, and rural healthcare access. MDH’s work in immunizations, emergency preparedness, and addressing health disparities is more important than ever, yet these cuts put those efforts at risk.
Nurses both in and outside of MDH rely on strong public health infrastructure to do their jobs safely and effectively. These cuts put patients, families, and entire communities at risk. We call on federal leaders to reconsider these cuts and state leaders to find a way to prioritize public health funding and protect the resources that keep Minnesotans safe and healthy.
