Heinrich, Leger Fernández, Vasquez Urge Trump Administration to Reverse Firings & Furloughs of Workers Responsible for Maternal, Rural, & Family Health Care Services in New Mexico

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding that the Trump Administration immediately reverse the reductions in force (RIF) and related furloughs and layoffs of HHS workers responsible for managing family and rural health care services as well as health workforce programs in New Mexico.

"Recent firings across the Office of Population Affairs and the Division of Nursing and Public Health Programs threaten to disrupt administration of vital grants to state public health departments and nursing schools, jeopardizing federal programs that address maternal and reproductive health care in New Mexico," the lawmakers wrote to Secretary Kennedy and Director Vought.

HHS workers at the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) are responsible for administering the Title X family planning grant program, which provides federal funding to clinics in New Mexico and nationwide for services such as STI testing, breast exams, birth control, HPV vaccines, mental health screenings, and other essential reproductive and general health services for women. In New Mexico, an estimated 10,000 women rely on Title X clinics for health care each year.

"New Mexico's highly rural areas already face dire shortages of health care facilities and providers. Without anyone at OPA to administer Title X funds, these family health clinics could be forced to turn New Mexico women away," the lawmakers continued. "Similarly, the Division of Nursing and Public Health Programs is integral to improving access to primary care in New Mexico."

In the letter, the members of the N.M. Delegation note that the Division of Nursing and Public Health Programs (DNPH) bolsters our health care workforce by directing funds to nursing schools and students to help recruit and retain these providers. DNPH employees oversee longstanding Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, including the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, the Advanced Nursing Education Program, and the Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program.

"By effectively eliminating the Division of Nursing and Public Health Programs through mass firings, this Administration will worsen the primary care provider shortage that has already contributed to this country's maternal health care crisis,"the lawmakers wrote.

The members of the N.M. Delegation concluded the letter by highlighting that nearly one in four registered nurses works in a designated rural area, and many rural hospitals in New Mexico have already been forced to close their labor and delivery units in recent years, citing staffing shortages among other market concerns.

"Closing the DNPH and eliminating its ability to administer Title VIII funds to academic institutions, like the University of New Mexico, will exacerbate our state's growing nursing workforce shortage," the lawmakers warned the Trump Administration.

The full text of the letter is here and below:

Dear Secretary Kennedy and Director Vought,

We demand the immediate reversal of reductions in force and related furloughs and layoffs of federal personnel responsible for managing Congressionally appropriated, longstanding family health services and health workforce programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Recent firings across the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) and the Division of Nursing and Public Health Programs (DNPH) threaten to disrupt administration of vital grants to state public health departments and nursing schools, jeopardizing federal programs that address maternal and reproductive health care in New Mexico.

Critically, staff at OPA are responsible for administering the Title X family planning grant program, which provides federal funding to nearly 4,000 clinics nationwide for services such as STI testing, breast exams, birth control, HPV vaccines, mental health screenings, and other essential reproductive and general health services for women. In New Mexico, an estimated 10,000 women rely on Title X clinics for health care each year. New Mexico's highly rural areas already face dire shortages of health care facilities and providers. Without anyone at OPA to administer Title X funds, these family health clinics could be forced to turn New Mexico women away.

Similarly, DNPH is integral to improving access to primary care in New Mexico. Nursing programs bolster our health workforce during a time when national shortages are projected to persist through 2037. DNPH employees oversee longstanding Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, including the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, the Advanced Nursing Education Program, and the Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program. By effectively eliminating DNPH through mass firings, this administration will worsen the primary care provider shortage that has already contributed to this country's maternal health care crisis.

Nearly one in four registered nurses works in a designated rural area, and many rural hospitals in New Mexico have already been forced to close their labor and delivery units in recent years, citing staffing shortages among other market concerns. Closing the DNPH and eliminating its ability to administer Title VIII funds to academic institutions, like the University of New Mexico, will exacerbate our state's growing nursing workforce shortage.

We are serious about improving maternal health outcomes in this country. Achieving it requires that you immediately rescind all reductions in force and related furloughs and layoffs of federal personnel responsible for managing Congressionally appropriated, longstanding family health services and health workforce programs at HHS.

Sincerely,

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