Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein told the Joint Committee on Public Health on March 17 that the agency is still analyzing recent federal funding decisions that she said could eliminate “close to a hundred million dollars in cuts” to the department over the next six to 18 months. The commissioner said the affected CDC and other federal grants support laboratory testing, surveillance and vaccine infrastructure.

Goldstein framed the department’s response around five strategic priorities and six major initiatives. “Our map calls out five key objectives to better serve Massachusetts,” she said, describing priorities that include centering racial equity, strengthening emergency preparedness, building workforce capacity, modernizing data infrastructure and improving the public health hospital system.

Why it matters: Goldstein and committee chairs said the potential loss of federal funds would affect core public‑health functions statewide. Goldstein said some CDC grants were terminated and emphasized the department’s commitment to maintain services even as it assesses impacts. The chairs and other committee members repeatedly raised the urgency of federal funding shifts and their downstream effects on state programs.

Details from the briefing: Goldstein said DPH’s budget is about $1.7–$1.8 billion annually and that the department receives roughly $700 million a year from federal sources — “a little bit less than 50% of our overall budget.” She enumerated initiatives already underway: implementing a five‑year racial equity plan, improving maternal care with levels‑of‑care frameworks, creating pathways linking maternal‑child health and substance use supports, expanding the DPH Ready Responder program, building a DPH data library, and strengthening standards at the state public hospitals.

Committee members pressed for specifics on the grants and cuts; Goldstein said analysis is ongoing. Several committee members thanked DPH staff and invited continued weekly coordination. Multiple witnesses at the hearing later referenced concerns about how federal actions — including proposed changes to CDC and related programs — could increase demands on state and local public health infrastructure.

What’s next: DPH plans follow‑up briefings and said it will continue to work with the committee and legislative staff as the fiscal picture becomes clearer. The committee and chairs signaled they expect continued engagement from DPH and other state agencies as the session proceeds.