Attorneys General from 20 States Sue Trump Administration Over Public Health Funding Cuts

New York Attorney General Letitia James has spearheaded a coalition of 20 states in a legal challenge against the Trump administration, targeting substantial cuts to public health funding and the restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). James, at a press conference, characterized the administration’s actions as the most extensive and unlawful assault on public health in the nation’s history. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, accuses the administration of violating numerous laws and regulations in its attempt to dismantle HHS.

The core of the lawsuit revolves around the administration’s efforts to reduce the HHS workforce by 20,000 employees through mass firings and the closure of critical health programs nationwide. Attorney General James asserts that these actions are not a streamlining of the federal government, but rather a deliberate sabotage of its essential functions. She emphasized the severe risks these cuts pose to Americans, both in New York and across the country.

The lawsuit highlights the specific dangers of dismantling public health infrastructure. James pointed out that firing scientists researching infectious diseases, silencing doctors providing care for pregnant women, and shutting down programs that assist firefighters, miners, and children are actions that undermine public health. She argued that these actions put countless lives at risk and contradict the fundamental purpose of government.

James emphasized that the administration’s actions defy Congress’s authority and violate federal law. The lawsuit seeks an immediate halt to the dismantling of HHS, an end to the mass firings, and the restoration of life-saving programs that millions of Americans rely on.

The coalition of states joining New York in the lawsuit includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

The attorneys general argue that the Trump administration’s actions erase decades of public health progress and render HHS incapable of executing many of its most vital functions. They claim that these actions violate Congress’s instructions, the U.S. Constitution, and the statutes governing the Department’s programs and funding.

The lawsuit details specific actions taken by the administration, including terminating 10,000 full-time employees, collapsing 28 agencies into 15, and closing half of HHS’s 10 regional offices. These actions, the attorneys general contend, demonstrate a systematic deprivation of HHS’s resources necessary to fulfill its mission.

Attorney General James specifically cited the administration’s impact on measles testing during an outbreak, noting that New York’s Wadsworth Center is one of the few labs in the country still equipped to detect rare infectious diseases. She added that the Wadsworth Center is struggling to fill the void left by a hollowed-out Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The lawsuit highlights layoffs within HHS, including at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDC, and National Institutes of Health (NIH). The reductions stem from a Department of Government Efficiency-led push to reduce the size of the federal workforce and trim government spending.

The lawsuit alleges that the cuts included terminating HHS employees responsible for determining SNAP and Medicaid eligibility for low-income or disabled Americans, firing the CDC’s entire maternal health team, and significantly reducing mental health and substance abuse services and personnel. The plaintiffs assert that these layoffs were unnecessary because Congress’s appropriations have remained steady or increased in recent years.

The lawsuit notes that the administration’s plan to terminate 20,000 full-time employees, representing almost 25% of HHS’s headcount, aims to save less than 1% of HHS expenditures. The attorneys general requested the court to halt HHS efforts to dismantle the agencies and programs cut as a result of the reorganization.

The states involved in the lawsuit are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the alleged unconstitutional and illegal dismantling of the Department.

Attorney General James has a history of conflict with the Trump administration, having joined numerous lawsuits challenging his policies. This lawsuit marks another chapter in her opposition to the administration’s agenda.