Houston Health Worker Warns: Budget Cuts Threaten Emergency Response

Houston Official Highlights Risks of Public Health Funding Cuts Amid Shutdown

Charles Morris, who manages accounting at Houston's Public Health Department, is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and health of his community. As a member of AFSCME Local HOPE 123, Morris emphasizes the importance of public service as not just a profession but a responsibility to protect the city.

“We don’t just balance budgets and research,” Morris declares. “We balance lives.”

With the government shutdown instigated by federal leaders to maintain tax benefits for wealthy entities, crucial public health funding is being stripped away from Morris' community. He warns that these financial cuts will significantly impact public health emergencies, particularly affecting the most vulnerable populations.

“Half of our budget comes from federal grants. Half of our income is getting slashed,” Morris notes. “Fewer grants mean fewer services to the public. This means a drop in disaster preparedness, emergency response, disease monitoring — even basic things like opening cooling or warming centers when the temperatures spike.”

Morris, who played an active role during the COVID-19 pandemic, setting up testing sites and distributing vaccines, understands the critical role every department member plays during a health crisis. He further comments, “Sadly, cuts won’t just slash services; jobs are on the line too. The first thing to go is often administrative staff — people like me — and that has ripple effects across everything this department does.”

Texas has faced significant natural disasters, and with recent catastrophic flooding in Central Texas, the limitations on spending have already hampered emergency responses. This disaster led to over 130 fatalities due to inadequate infrastructure and preparation.

“We already didn’t have the infrastructure needed to prepare for this disaster,” Morris states. “We cannot afford to take more away — not in dollars, and not with lives.”

Expressing concern for overburdened public workers lacking resources, Morris stresses the urgency of the situation: “We have a city to run. Right now, we have to protect our public workers and the community members that are the most vulnerable.”

Morris, along with AFSCME members nationwide, is urging Congress to reduce healthcare costs, adequately fund public services, and ensure community operations continue smoothly.