WASHINGTON — The Alzheimer’s Association is warning that staffing reductions by President Donald Trump's administration could “undermine” the government’s response to the dementia public health crisis.

What You Need To Know

  • The Alzheimer’s Association is warning that staffing reductions by the Trump administration could “undermine” the government’s response to the dementia public health crisis

  • Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Bowling Green, sponsored the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Reauthorization Act; it became law four months ago

  • The Alzheimer’s Association said staffers who work on the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s program were placed on administrative leave

  • The organization estimates the number of people in Kentucky 65 and older with the disease will climb to 86,000 this year

Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Bowling Green, sponsored the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Reauthorization Act, which became law four months ago.

The legislation extends programs focused on addressing Alzheimer’s disease through education, caregiver support and more.

In an April 1 statement, the Alzheimer’s Association said it was “sounding the alarm,” and that staffers who work on the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s program were placed on administrative leave as part of downsizing at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

An HHS official told Spectrum News 1 that "critical programs" within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will continue under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "vision to streamline HHS to better serve Americans."

“HHS will continue to comply with statutory requirements, and as a result of the reorganization, will be better positioned to execute on Congress’s statutory intent,” the official said.

Guthrie, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over HHS, said last week that he was expecting a bipartisan briefing to learn more about the changes.

“We have a great opportunity for efficiency in the federal government and I know that’s what they’re trying to do,” Guthrie told Spectrum News on April 7. “What I don’t know and what I can’t answer is exactly who’s being cut, where are they being cut, but it’s the job of the department to tell us … We need to have proper oversight and we’re going to do that.”

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates the number of people in Kentucky 65 and older with the disease will climb to 86,000 this year, up nearly 15% since 2020.

“These public health programs are critical to Alzheimer’s/dementia awareness and brain health in communities here in Kentucky and across the nation," Mackenzie Wallace, director of public policy for the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Kentucky & Southern Indiana, said in a statement to Spectrum News Monday. "Importantly, at this time, the BOLD program remains intact, but continuing on a path of reducing staff and resources could hinder their success and reduce or eliminate the benefits we’ve seen to Americans' health since the BOLD program was first enacted."

A spokesperson for Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce committee confirmed the committee had a bipartisan staff briefing Friday, April 11 with HHS staff regarding HHS downsizing, which was not open to the press.

Spectrum News 1 has reached out to Guthrie's staff for comment on the briefing.

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