In late March, the Minnesota Department of Health announced layoffs and reductions in public health services due to cuts to federal grants made by the Trump administration. Now, some layoff notices have since been rescinded.
Health officials said that only current staff members have retained their jobs. The recission of layoff notices does not apply to temporary staff or contractors who were laid off in the spring.
“We celebrate this positive step while also recognizing the disruption and chaos that our staff and partners have had to endure,” the health department said in a statement.
Initially, the agency issued layoffs and separation notices to 170 employees whose positions were supported by federal grants and rescinded offers for 20 new hires.
The layoffs and separations resulted from an unexpected decision by the federal government to cut more than $220 million in previously approved funding for the health department.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with 15 other Democratic state attorneys, filed a lawsuit to temporarily block the cuts to the grants.
The health department said that ongoing legal challenges in the federal court case have allowed them to maintain access to COVID-related funding to retain their staff.
Additionally, a proposal to the state budget for the next two years does not include significant cuts to the health department.
The agency said it is closely monitoring the situation and planning for potential future cuts in federal funding.
