MATSUI HOSTS “STOP THE CUTS” PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SLASHES CDC PUBLIC HEALTH GRANTS

SACRAMENTO, CA - Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) hosted a "Stop the Cuts" press conference at the Sacramento County Department of Health Services' office alongside Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Yolo County Public Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson, and WellSpace Health CEO Dr. Jonathan Porteus to warn against the Trump Administration's action to cut millions in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public health grant funding.

Speakers discussed how these cuts threaten staffing, disease surveillance, and data modernization, and prevention programs that help keep families safe and stop outbreaks before they spread.

The Trump Administration's grant terminations targeted California, Colorado, Minnesota, and Illinois-all Democratic-led states. This is not a coincidence. It follows a familiar pattern of using federal resources as a political weapon, prioritizing partisan scorekeeping over public health needs and putting communities at risk for purely political reasons.

"Public health grants are what allow local departments to track infections and respond before outbreaks spiral out of control. Cutting this funding now isn't just irresponsible, it puts lives at risk," said Congresswoman Matsui. "I will continue standing shoulder to shoulder with local public health officers and community leaders who are doing lifesaving work every single day. The Trump Administration is weaponizing federal funding and our communities deserve better."

"The public health systems that detect disease, respond to emergencies and protect families require sustained investment in the essential infrastructure behind that work," saidDr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County Public Health Officer. "It's important to understand that scaling back investments in public health infrastructure ultimately leaves communities less protected when it matters most. Strong public health systems protect families long before a crisis makes headlines."

"In Yolo County, about one-third of our public health funding comes from the Federal government. We need to be able to count on funding that has been awarded to us actually coming to us. We can't budget based on false promises," saidDr. Aimee Sission, Yolo County Public Health Officer. "Cuts to public health funding are short-sighted. We don't have to look back any farther than 2020 to see what happens when health departments are underfunded and lack the capacity to respond to emergencies."

"Public health and public safety are synonymous," saidDr. Jonathan Porteus, CEO of WellSpace Health. "When we stop investing in prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, we stop investing in the safety of our communities. It is my sincerest hope these cuts will be reversed and public safety restored."

Last Friday, February 13, 2026, Congresswoman Matsui led 77 of her colleagues, including every Democratic Representative from California, Colorado, Minnesota, and Illinois-all states that were targeted by the recent rescissions-in demanding that the Trump Administration immediately restore public health grant funding to these states. In the letter, Members called for transparency and accountability, including a full list of terminated grants and those under consideration. Full text of the letter is available HERE.

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