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3w ago

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration’s $11 Billion Public Health Funding Cuts

The restraining order halts the cuts while litigation continues, with states arguing the funds are critical for public health infrastructure.

A view of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services building, after it was reported that the HHS cuts about 10,000 full-time jobs and closes half of its regional offices, a major overhaul of the department under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 27, 2025.
New York Attorney General Letitia James stands while Connecticut Attorney General William Tong speaks during a press conference about their ongoing lawsuit against DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) accessing U.S. citizens private and sensitive data in New York City, U.S., February 14, 2025.
Lynn Sokler, who retired from the CDC three weeks ago after working there almost two decades, protests with others in support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in front of the headquarters in Atlanta, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)
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Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump administration from rescinding $11 billion in public health funding allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The lawsuit was filed by 23 states and the District of Columbia, claiming the cuts would cause irreparable harm to public health programs addressing infectious diseases, mental health, and substance abuse.
  • Judge McElroy cited the states' strong likelihood of success on the merits and the potential for significant harm if the cuts were implemented.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services justified the cuts by asserting that the pandemic is over, but states argue the funding remains vital for ongoing health needs and was not scheduled to expire until 2027.
  • A preliminary injunction hearing is tentatively scheduled for mid-April, during which the court will decide whether to extend the block on the funding cuts.