Navigating Rapid Federal Impacts to Public Health

April 3, 2025

Public health serves as a critical safety net for the most vulnerable in our communities. Previously, we spoke out about the numerous executive orders that threaten global and national public and environmental health initiatives, including DEI programs, transgender rights, and immigration policies. Trailhead Institute will continue to center community collaboration, long-term vision, scientific integrity, data-driven decision-making, and clear, decisive action—balancing the urgency of today with the strategic foresight needed for tomorrow.

What we’re paying attention to:

  • Sweeping staffing cuts across federal offices. The role of government isn’t to be profitable, but to serve public needs in a way that no one else does. To prepare for the unknown impacts of these broad administrative actions, many organizations are bracing for this worst-case scenario, which could result in limited to no access to critical health services, food, and shelter. These broad and deep cuts at the CDC and other agencies are so significant and wide-ranging that the nation is likely to discover their impacts in the near term, midterm, and long term – and, unfortunately, capacity is much more difficult to build than to destroy.

  • Impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Public Health and our ability to serve communities. Anti-immigration policies and the threat of deportation through active ICE raids have profound impacts on the trust of individuals and communities to access public health, healthcare, and cultural and community spaces that have direct impacts on people’s health and well-being. Many organizations are proactively preparing for potential raids, with significant emotional and logistical impacts on their staff and patients alike. Families and schools have already seen ICE raids impact their communities.

  • Medicaid and Public Health.  Cuts to COVID-19 “emergency” Medicaid funding have led to a drop in Coloradans insured by Medicaid, which has led to significant layoffs at healthcare centers across Colorado. Trailhead is especially concerned about services in rural areas and the ability to maintain essential health services. This includes our close partners at Rural Health Centers.

  • Funding Cuts: On Friday, March 14th, The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger issued a response to the federal cancellation of $1.3 billion in investments meant to support local farmers, schools, food banks, and pantries nationally. The abrupt cut to funding will cancel over $13 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding in Colorado meant to help food banks and schools purchase locally grown produce.

  • Scrubbing Public Health Information: The removal of federal health websites, data sets, and other resources was reversed by a court order in early February. The medically inaccurate language at the top of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey site highlights the shift to reframing or modifying research to meet political needs. This is especially true with topics related to transgender health, an integral part of public health. Inclusion and equity are intrinsically connected to the health and well-being of all people. We remain committed to our values and the DEI principles that inform our work.

Lifting Up Resources

As we continue to navigate rapid changes at the federal level, below are resources we want to lift up:

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s red cards give examples of how people can exercise their rights in real situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.

Once your congressperson forms a public stance on an issue, it’s hard for them to walk it back. The earlier they hear your opinion, the more likely it is you’ll make an impact. Calling is the most effective way to ensure that your representative hears you before they take a public stance. Read more about why calling works.

The Colorado Association of Resilient and Equitable Systems (CO-CARES) provides healthcare workers and public health professionals with resources to support recovery, as well as develop well-being and resilience at the personal, team, and organizational level.

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