In March, the Trump Administration announced it was cutting about $11 billion nationwide in grants for state health departments. The Administration said the funding was for COVID response and was no longer needed.

According to figures the state health department sent to MTPR, the state has returned a little over $28 million. That figure will grow as health officials are still sorting out the impact for two grants.

These grants fund a wide range of public health services. Montana Public Health Institute CEO Matt Kelley says much of this funding helps local public health departments put on vaccine clinics.