Government health officials warned Monday that $20 million for equipment to conduct disease testing at a new Allegheny County laboratory could be in jeopardy because of drastic spending cuts by President Donald Trump.
Trump is trying to block $11 billion in public health grants that flow through the states, but a federal judge has temporarily halted his plans, and the issue remains tied up in litigation.
As a result, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said, local officials are rushing to buy equipment for the Marshall facility in an effort to spend the money quickly in case the Trump administration prevails.
The new testing site was built as a response to the covid-19 pandemic five years ago, when health officials around the world scrambled to expand testing capacity.
In Allegheny County, officials quickly discovered their existing public health lab wasn’t able to handle the massive influx in virus testing, said county Health Department Chief Operating Officer Kim Joyce.
Health officials took advantage of every inch of available space in the old facility to perform covid testing, even taking over closets.
“At that point,” Joyce said, “we knew we wanted to do better for the community, for the region, for Allegheny County.”
Currently, the county health department can run about 50,000 samples per year. During the pandemic, that wasn’t enough.
Using $30 million in American Rescue Plan Act money, the county built a 40,000-square-foot public health lab in the North Hills.
The new lab will dramatically expand that capacity to around 400,000 tests per year to detect contagious diseases, foodborne illnesses and other health threats.
Trump’s cuts, however, threaten the money to pay for the new equipment needed to make that happen.
Cautious optimism
County spokeswoman Abigail Gardner said the county is “cautiously optimistic” it will be able to spend the $20 million in question. They are continuing to access money through the grant during the temporary pause.
If the money were to go away, Gardner said, it would likely delay the purchase of some equipment meant to expand the new lab’s capabilities.
The county is in the process of moving equipment from the old lab in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville section into the new facility. It’s doing so in piecemeal fashion to ensure there’s no break in testing abilities during the transfer.
Once completed by the end of June, the old lab will be shuttered, said Dr. Iulia Vann, the county health department director.
Vann said she’s undeterred by the federal funding threats.
“We always find ways to make it happen,” Vann said. “I’m not concerned about our ability to continue to support the work that’s being done here.”
U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy of Rhode Island last week issued a temporary restraining order that blocked the Trump administration from slashing the billions in grants used to track and prevent infectious diseases like measles and bird flu.
Other uses for the grants include mental health services and addiction treatment, Reuters reported.
Gov. Josh Shapiro joined other states in a lawsuit challenging the proposed cuts.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has defended its actions, saying that the money was being wasted since the pandemic is over, according to The Associated Press.
Officials said the new lab will help cut costs and provide quicker turnaround times for testing.
Currently, many tests have to be sent to other parts of the state or country, a process that can be costly and lead to delays, Innamorato said.
‘New era’
The Marshall site will house between 35 and 40 staffers. It will be one of three public health labs in the state, according to Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen.
“This new laboratory is not just a building; it’s a symbol of progress, preparedness and innovation,” Bogen said Monday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The lab will house testing for influenza, covid-19, measles, mumps, rubella, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, rabies and foodborne illnesses, officials said.
It will also serve surrounding areas, including Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
“We’re stepping into a new era of readiness,” Vann said.
The new facility has room to expand, she said.
The lab’s opening comes as a measles outbreak has swept through some parts of the country, killing two children in Texas.
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Bogen said state health officials are monitoring measles cases. Six have been reported in Pennsylvania so far this year, she said, up from four the year before.
State health officials are conducting contact tracing to determine who may have come in contact with infected individuals, but the commonwealth so far is “doing really well” because of high vaccination rates.
Bogen said about 94% of Pennsylvania children are vaccinated for measles by kindergarten.