Twenty-three states and Washington, DC, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the rollback of $12 billion in public health funding. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday (April 1) in federal court in Rhode Island, challenges the decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to cut funds previously allocated for COVID-19 response and other health initiatives.
The attorneys general argue that the cuts are unlawful and will lead to the discontinuation of essential health services and job losses for thousands of healthcare workers. The funds were intended to support pandemic preparedness, addiction treatment, and mental health services. New York Attorney General Letitia James stated that slashing the funding now would reverse progress on the opioid crisis and disrupt mental health systems.
The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to halt the funding cuts immediately. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the decision to rescind the funds, stating that the COVID-19 pandemic is over and the department will focus on addressing chronic diseases. However, state officials argue that the funds were never solely for COVID-19 and were crucial for long-term public health improvements.
The funding cuts have also led to significant layoffs, with the Associated Press reporting that up to 10,000 HHS employees received dismissal notices.
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