Rural hospitals have been dying on the vine for years while Washington, D.C. looked the other way.
President Trump didn't forget about them.
And Trump and DeSantis just delivered $209 million that every single Democrat voted against.
Florida Wins Big Under Trump's Rural Health Program
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida secured $209 million in federal funding to transform rural healthcare across the state.¹
The money comes from Trump's Rural Health Transformation Program – a $50 billion initiative created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that Trump signed in July 2025.²
Here's what every conservative needs to understand about this victory: every Democrat in Congress voted AGAINST the bill that made this funding possible.³
They opposed giving rural Americans better access to healthcare.
They voted no on bringing doctors and nurses to underserved communities.
They said no to modernizing rural hospitals that were barely keeping their doors open.
Now Trump and DeSantis are delivering results Democrats refused to support.
Florida's $209 million award came after a competitive process where all 50 states submitted applications showing how they'd use federal dollars to strengthen rural healthcare.⁴
https://twitter.com/RepKatCammack/status/2006090618959774204?s=20
The program distributes $10 billion annually through 2030, with awards ranging from $147 million to $281 million depending on each state's rural population and proposed initiatives.⁵
Florida's award sits slightly above the $200 million average – recognition that DeSantis put together a compelling plan.⁶
DeSantis Focused On What Rural Floridians Actually Need
The funding will hit three critical areas where rural Florida has struggled for years.
First, workforce development.
Florida will use Trump's money to train more healthcare workers and create incentives that actually convince doctors and nurses to practice in rural communities instead of clustering in Miami and Orlando.
Second, expanding access to care.
The state plans to fund satellite clinics, deploy mobile health units, and expand services in dental care, behavioral health, maternal health, and chronic disease management.
Third, leveraging technology.
Florida will invest in remote patient monitoring, behavioral health telehubs, and advanced telespecialty services that let rural patients consult with specialists without driving three hours.
Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris credited Trump and DeSantis for giving Florida the tools to transform rural healthcare.
"Our Agency, thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and President Trump, has ample tools in our toolbox that will help in enhancing health care in our rural communities and bolstering the support families need," Harris said.⁷
Safety Net Hospital Alliance CEO Justin Senior pointed out the obvious: "Every family in Florida should have access to high quality care regardless of their zip code, and no one should have to travel long distances to access the care that they need."⁸
That's exactly what Trump's program delivers – and exactly what Democrats voted against.
Democrats Called It A "Slush Fund" Before Trump Proved Them Wrong
Senate Democrats threw a fit when Trump included the Rural Health Transformation Program in his budget bill.
Chuck Schumer and Ron Wyden called it a "slush fund" and demanded investigations.⁹
They claimed the $50 billion wouldn't offset Medicaid changes in Trump's legislation.
But here's what Democrats won't tell you: this represents a 50% increase in Medicaid investments specifically for rural healthcare.¹⁰
Rural hospitals have been closing at alarming rates for years because previous administrations – including Obama's and Biden's – left them to twist in the wind.
Trump saw rural Americans struggling to find basic healthcare and actually did something about it.
The program isn't just throwing money at broken systems.
https://twitter.com/VernBuchanan/status/2005753080609165708?s=20
Trump's team structured it to reward states that implement real solutions – things like requiring nutrition education for healthcare providers and promoting preventive care instead of just treating illness after it develops.¹¹
Florida gained extra points in the application process because DeSantis already secured federal approval to ban SNAP benefits for junk food starting January 1st.¹²
That's the kind of "Make America Healthy Again" policy Trump wants states embracing.
Democrats opposed all of it.
They voted against rural healthcare funding.
They voted against giving states flexibility to innovate.
They voted against empowering governors like DeSantis to solve problems Washington, D.C. created.
Now Trump and DeSantis are proving Democrats dead wrong while delivering real results for rural Floridians who desperately need better access to healthcare.
George E. Weems Memorial Hospital CEO David Walker summed up what this means for rural communities: "For rural hospitals, this funding is a lifeline. Telehealth, mobile health units, and care coordination will help us keep patients local, reduce unnecessary transfers, and provide the kind of care our communities deserve."¹³
¹ "Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida Awarded $209 Million Through Federal Rural Health Transformation Program," Office of Governor Ron DeSantis, December 31, 2025.
² "CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards to Strengthen Rural Health in All 50 States," Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, December 29, 2025.
³ "All 50 States Will Receive Historic Funding from Trump Administration to Strengthen Rural Health Care," The White House, December 30, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ "CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards to Strengthen Rural Health in All 50 States," Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, December 29, 2025.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ "Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida Awarded $209 Million Through Federal Rural Health Transformation Program," Office of Governor Ron DeSantis, December 31, 2025.
⁸ Ibid.
⁹ "After Republicans Slashed Healthcare For Millions And Paralyzed The Future Of Hundreds Of Rural Hospitals, Leader Schumer And Senator Wyden Lead Senate Dems In Demanding Answers," Senate Democratic Leadership, July 25, 2025.
¹⁰ Devi Shastri and Margery A. Beck, "Trump administration rolls out rural health funding, with strings attached," Associated Press, December 29, 2025.
¹¹ Ibid.
¹² "Florida seeks share of $50 billion in federal funding for rural health care," WUSF Public Media, November 10, 2025.
¹³ "Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida Awarded $209 Million Through Federal Rural Health Transformation Program," Office of Governor Ron DeSantis, December 31, 2025.
