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is a team that maintained a database of injuries and violent deaths, which was widely relied upon by policymakers and researchers. And in a move that will be felt beyond the Beltway, the administration has cut off billions of dollars in federal grants that were awarded to state and local health departments for a range of programs, like tracking infectious diseases or treating addiction.

That is being challenged in the courts, but in the meantime, some state health departments have already begun layoffs. With me today are Wall Street Journal health business editor Jonathan Rockoff and senior writer Betsy McKay. Jonathan, lots of changes clearly afoot here. What reasons is the administration giving for this shakeup?

That is being challenged in the courts, but in the meantime, some state health departments have already begun layoffs. With me today are Wall Street Journal health business editor Jonathan Rockoff and senior writer Betsy McKay. Jonathan, lots of changes clearly afoot here. What reasons is the administration giving for this shakeup?

Though obviously the long-term ones are not too difficult to conjure up, possibly a reemergence of certain diseases or at least slowed efforts to try and cure others, right?

Though obviously the long-term ones are not too difficult to conjure up, possibly a reemergence of certain diseases or at least slowed efforts to try and cure others, right?

Yeah, take us into what we're seeing around chronic disease, a pullback in monitoring maybe, and yet Robert F. Kennedy Jr. very focused on what he believes to be the root causes of certain health issues in the United States.

Yeah, take us into what we're seeing around chronic disease, a pullback in monitoring maybe, and yet Robert F. Kennedy Jr. very focused on what he believes to be the root causes of certain health issues in the United States.

We have got to take a short break, but when we come back, we will look at what happens when the U.S. pulls back on public health spending domestically and abroad. Stay with us.

We have got to take a short break, but when we come back, we will look at what happens when the U.S. pulls back on public health spending domestically and abroad. Stay with us.

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All right. Before the break, we were talking about some of the changes coming to public health priorities and funding in Washington. And, John, I just want to ask you, before we start looking abroad, aren't there other entities in the U.S. that could step in here, be it states, philanthropies, the private sector, to cover any funding gaps that emerge?

All right. Before the break, we were talking about some of the changes coming to public health priorities and funding in Washington. And, John, I just want to ask you, before we start looking abroad, aren't there other entities in the U.S. that could step in here, be it states, philanthropies, the private sector, to cover any funding gaps that emerge?

Betsy, something similar is happening abroad. John referring there to going back to square one on the domestic public health funding model and challenging old assumptions. That is kind of what's happening as the U.S. namely pulls back U.S. Agency for International Development projects for public health around the world.

Betsy, something similar is happening abroad. John referring there to going back to square one on the domestic public health funding model and challenging old assumptions. That is kind of what's happening as the U.S. namely pulls back U.S. Agency for International Development projects for public health around the world.

We are already seeing just on the African continent health systems racing to try and respond to a change in U.S. funding. Nigeria announcing measures to try and soften the impact of these U.S. aid cuts and finding other ways they can fund their health programs in South Africa. Scientists

We are already seeing just on the African continent health systems racing to try and respond to a change in U.S. funding. Nigeria announcing measures to try and soften the impact of these U.S. aid cuts and finding other ways they can fund their health programs in South Africa. Scientists

Maybe he's trying to find a silver lining here, saying this maybe is the opportunity the continent needed to break its dependence on foreign aid. Betsy, do we have an idea of what that alternate model would be? I know you've spoken to a lot of people as you try to understand the effects of these cuts specifically abroad. What's their thinking?