Introduction to the Lawsuit
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 21 other attorneys generals and two governors, are suing U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his department over the abrupt termination of $11 billion in public health funding.
Background of the Cuts
The federal lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in Rhode Island, says the cuts “immediately triggered chaos for State and local health jurisdictions,” and that key public health programs and initiatives that address public health needs will have to be dissolved or disbanded. Employees across the U.S. Health and Human Services Department on Tuesday began receiving notices of dismissal — and layoffs of up to 10,000 people are expected, including researchers, scientists, doctors and senior leaders, according to the Associated Press.
Impact on Illinois
It is not immediately clear whether any Illinois staffers have been dismissed, and Gov. JB Pritzker’s office on Tuesday morning said it had not received word of terminations. State officials last week learned the Trump administration had rescinded $28 million in previously approved grants from the Illinois Department of Human Services and $125 million in funds from the state Department of Public Health. Illinois public health officials said with “the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic behind us,” the $125 million in federal dollars were crucial to strengthening disease surveillance “and to prepare for future potential pandemics.”
The Lawsuit Details
The suit claims the termination of billions of public funding “with no warning” is unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act. It also asserts that states have complied with the terms and conditions of grants and agreements, and that Congress did not limit funding to the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The suit is seeking to vacate the funding cuts and enjoin Trump administration officials from implementing and enforcing the cuts. It’s also seeking a declaration that the cuts violate the Administrative Procedure Act.
Response from the Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services said the cuts were made because it would “no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a nonexistent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago.” However, this reasoning has been met with criticism from the attorneys general and governors involved in the lawsuit.
Plaintiffs in the Lawsuit
Plaintiffs include the attorneys general of Colorado, Rhode Island, California, Minnesota, the state of Washington, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Wisconsin. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear are also listed as plaintiffs — largely because Kentucky and Pennsylvania are led by Republican attorneys general.
Conclusion
The termination of public funding by the Trump administration has been met with strong opposition from state attorneys general and governors. The lawsuit filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and others seeks to vacate the funding cuts and ensure that public health programs and initiatives continue to receive necessary funding. The outcome of this lawsuit will have significant implications for public health in the United States.
FAQs
- Q: Why did the Trump administration cut public health funding?
A: According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the cuts were made because it would “no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a nonexistent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago.” - Q: How much funding was cut?
A: The Trump administration cut $11 billion in public health funding, including $28 million in previously approved grants from the Illinois Department of Human Services and $125 million in funds from the state Department of Public Health. - Q: Who is involved in the lawsuit?
A: The lawsuit was filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, 21 other attorneys general, and two governors. - Q: What is the goal of the lawsuit?
A: The lawsuit seeks to vacate the funding cuts, enjoin Trump administration officials from implementing and enforcing the cuts, and declare that the cuts violate the Administrative Procedure Act.
