California may lose more than $1 billion in health care funding as a result of recent federal budget cuts, according to state health officials.

The cuts target COVID-19 pandemic response grants.

COVID-19 was an unprecedented challenge that underscored the importance of a strong public health workforce and the need for 21st-century infrastructure.

Dr. Erica Pan, California's top public health officer, said the CDC intends to immediately end pandemic -related funding, some of which should have lasted until 2027.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government awarded billions of dollars in emergency relief to state health departments.

After the federal public health emergency ended, Congress allowed states to use the money for other public health investments.

California's public health department stands to lose more than $800 million, while local and mental health departments may lose hundreds of millions more.

The state uses this money to address persistent public health challenges that include record rates of sexually transmitted infections, the emerging bird flu threat, and a deadly flu season.

It also spends the money to fight the overdose crisis, which worsened during the pandemic.

In a statement to NBC News, a US Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said, "The COVID-19 pandemic is over and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago."

Multiple counties reported losing millions in grant money, including Los Angeles and Fresno.

Los Angeles health officials said the department would lose more than $45 million in core public health funding.

That money was used to boost disease surveillance and laboratory capacity, fund outbreak investigations, improve data transparency, and expand vaccination services.

A federal court has temporarily blocked the funding cut.

For CalMatters, I'm Kristen Hwang.