The Trump administration has laid off 10,000 employees from the Department of Health and Human Services and cut over $11 billion in federal public health funding, including resources for COVID-19 response.
California expects to lose $840 million, threatening disease monitoring, testing and vaccination programs, particularly in vulnerable communities.
As experts warn of reduced access to COVID-19 care, California and other states have sued to block the cuts, arguing they put millions at risk.
Former heart surgeon and TV pitchman Dr. Mehmet Oz will manage health insurance programs for roughly half the country.
The agency will also reduce its divisions from 28 to 15.
The 64-year-old was a respected heart surgeon who turned into a popular TV pitchman.
Dr. David Weldon was considered close with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. health secretary and one of the nation’s leading anti-vaccine activists.
Multiple Democratic lawmakers appeared at the event to protest possible cuts to Medicaid.
Judge John Bates in Washington agreed Tuesday to issue a temporary restraining order requested by the Doctors for America advocacy group.
