Dozens reportedly laid off at Galveston County Health District

GALVESTON, Texas – Dozens of people have been laid off at the Galveston County Health District as officials say money sources from the time of the COVID-19 pandemic which allowed them to increase staff levels has run out.

Local Health Authority at the Galveston County Health District, Dr. Philip Keiser, says 48 people were laid off on Friday. About half of those 48 worked in the clinic and the others throughout the department. The number represents about 10 percent of the workforce at the health district, which had a total of 340 people. A hiring freeze has also been implemented.

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Keiser said because the money which came in during the COVID-19 pandemic has run out, they are reverting to staff levels they had pre-COVID. Keiser told KPRC 2 they had held onto the extra staff members in hopes that the same amount of funding would continue, but that didn’t happen.

He said the layoffs will have no interruptions on treatment or services and they will maintain the same services and hours as before.

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Keiser said the cuts made were based on how they can do the same job more efficiently to meet the budget.