The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is fighting to keep millions in federal public‑health funding after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) moved to pull the state’s Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG).

The five‑year grant runs from Dec. 1, 2022 through Nov. 30, 2027.

CDC first called the award “terminated,” then later described it as “temporarily paused.”

In a letter sent to Minnesota, the CDC said, “notice of termination, effective February 11, 2026.” The letter said the CDC may terminate a federal award, “to the extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.”

The agency said those priorities center on strengthening the public‑health workforce, labs, data systems and the detection of health threats.

MDH Commissioner Brooke Cunningham said the department is in compliance with the priorities. She said the decision came without any explanation of what Minnesota allegedly failed to do.

“They’re saying we are not in accordance or in line with federal administration priorities. That is a bit perplexing, given that our work plans were approved. We had already been allocated these funds,” Cunningham said.

When asked whether CDC identified anything specific, she added, “Oh no. They did not do that. They just said, ‘These are not aligned with our priorities.’”

The agency did not answer our questions about what MDH was allegedly not prioritizing.

MDH said the state risks losing about $38 million in PHIG funding. “This is causing a lot of chaos and uncertainty,” Cunningham said.

Advocates warn the loss of funding could hit people with health challenges hard.

“I think anytime resources are taken away from communities and who are already struggling to have their needs met, that can be very scary for people,” said Jenna Carter, executive director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota.

She said more than 55,000 Minnesotans live with epilepsy and that modern data systems are essential for understanding barriers to care and guiding decisions at every level of government.

Carter said many families already struggle to access transportation, healthy food and consistent care.

“When public health infrastructure is weakened, those who face health care challenges, particularly those who live with chronic conditions like epilepsy, you know, really can be left without the critical care and support that they need to live their best lives possible,” Carter said.

The federal directive is targeting four states: Minnesota, California, Colorado and Illinois. In total, more than $600 million in CDC grants are at risk.

Attorney General Keith Ellison has now joined those states in suing the Trump administration, calling the cuts unlawful and warning they would force Minnesota to lay off public‑health workers and scale back disease‑tracking and emergency‑preparedness programs.

“These cuts only serve to continue Donald Trump’s campaign of revenge and retribution against the people of Minnesota,” Ellison said in announcing the lawsuit.

A temporary restraining order is currently allowing Minnesota to keep using the money for 14 days while the lawsuit moves forward. 

RELATED: Judge grants TRO blocking federal government from cutting public health funding to the state

“We will defend our work. We will defend our work for Minnesota,” Cunningham said.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC, asking for clarification.

A spokesperson said, “The Public Health Infrastructure Grants were temporarily paused so HHS could implement a new review process, one that will ensure funds are used for their intended purposes and in alignment with agency priorities.”

Below is the letter sent to MDH from CDC:

For Related Stories: CDC  Funding  Kamaria Braye  MDH  Minnesota Department of Health