Musk, Trump funding chaos force Virginia community health centers to close

“Trump handed over control to an unelected billionaire and let him work without thinking through the consequences to our communities,” Rep. Jennifer McClellan said. 

A Virginia Democrat in Congress wants accountability for the impact of last week’s federal funding chaos to local health facilities. 

Speaking at a hearing in Washington yesterday, Rep. Jennifer McClellan of Virginia said when President Donald Trump halted federal payments last week, it abruptly cut off 16 of Virginia’s 31 community health centers from federal funding. Her comments come after Virginia Public Media first reported on the federal funding struggles of Virginia’s community health care centers, which have over 200 facilities across the state.

“Some are still struggling to regain access to these critical resources,” McClellan said. 

The number of Virginia community health centers still cut off from federal funding now stands at seven, according to Joseph Stevens, a Virginia Community Healthcare Association spokesperson. Stevens said the community health centers did not want to be identified. He said one of the Virginia community health centers still cut off from federal funding is based in southwest Virginia where health care facilities are further apart and require greater travel times.

“If they do not receive their funds within the next two weeks … they’re going to have to make some decisions about staffing, shutting down certain services, and/or closing locations,” Stevens said about the southwest Virginia community health center.

Some of Virginia’s community health centers have already had to close locations because of the funding freeze. Capital Area Health Network in Richmond was forced to close at least three locations.

Stevens said Virginia’s community health centers have not gotten answers about why certain ones have access to federal funding and others still do not. The whole situation is concerning to many, including McClellan.

“Trump handed over control to an unelected billionaire and let him work without thinking through the consequences to our communities,” McClellan said. 

Community health centers provide essential services to prevent and treat substance use disorders, deliver primary care and dental care, and offer low-cost prescription drugs. They are often the only option for accessing health care for many people, especially in rural areas, she said. 

“The centers can’t operate without critical federal funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration to pay their health care workers and to keep the doors open, ” McClellan said.  

Stone Mountain Health Services in southwest Virginia referred questions to the Virginia Community Healthcare Association.

This week, hundreds have protested the role Elon Musk is playing in the Trump Administration and attacked the legally questionable actions of the Department of Government Efficiency to cut federal services and shrink the federal government. The Virginia House has formed an emergency committee tasked with assessing the economic impacts of federal funding and workforce cuts.

“We’re going to be fighting tooth and nail,” Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia told The Dogwood.

This story was updated to include comments from the Virginia Community Healthcare Association. 

 

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