1. United States
2. Mont.
3. Letter

The planned restructuring at the Department of Health and Human Services will have far-reaching consequences for public health programs across the country. Of particular concern is the proposal to shutter the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which oversees and provides crucial funding for hundreds of community health centers nationwide that employ over 236,000 workers. These centers play a vital role in delivering affordable, accessible care to millions of Americans, including many from underserved communities. Eliminating HRSA would severely undermine this critical safety net, potentially costing over 236,000 jobs, and jeopardize access to essential primary and preventive services for vulnerable populations. Maintaining robust community health center funding and infrastructure should be a top priority to uphold our nation's commitment to health equity and ensure all citizens can obtain the care they need. I urge you to reconsider this misguided plan to dismantle HRSA and instead work to strengthen the agency's ability to support community-based providers on the front lines of care delivery. Accessible, high-quality healthcare should be a right for all Americans, not just an elite few. Protecting HRSA is vital to realizing that ideal.