A coalition of 23 states has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration for cutting $11 billion in public health funds, a move critics say threatens mental health programs, pandemic preparedness, and addiction treatment nationwide.
AT A GLANCE
- 23 states and Washington, D.C. are suing the Trump administration over COVID-19 fund cuts.
- The $11 billion in rescinded funds were earmarked for mental health, addiction, and pandemic response.
- Officials warn of job losses, canceled research, and setbacks to opioid crisis progress.
- The suit alleges the cuts are illegal and without a rational basis.
- Health departments across the U.S. are scrambling to salvage affected programs.
Lawsuit Challenges $11 Billion in Health Cuts
A sweeping federal lawsuit has been filed by 23 states and Washington, D.C., challenging the Trump administration’s decision to rescind $11 billion in COVID-19 and public health funding. Filed in Rhode Island, the suit argues that the cuts violate congressional mandates and endanger national health initiatives ranging from mental health care to pandemic response.
As reported by the Associated Press, the funding was originally allocated to support health departments, expand addiction services, and bolster public readiness against future health threats. Now, states say they are left scrambling.
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned that “slashing this funding now will reverse our progress on the opioid crisis, throw our mental health systems into chaos, and leave hospitals struggling to care for patients,” as quoted by Star Tribune.
Watch coverage of the lawsuit and state reactions.
Nationwide Impact: Layoffs, Canceled Research, and Program Cuts
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has already begun issuing dismissal notices to staff working under affected grants, a move that could result in 10,000 layoffs, especially in public health agencies.
States like California stand to lose nearly $1 billion for local initiatives, while Minnesota and North Carolina brace for layoffs and major disruptions in ongoing programs. In Minnesota, Health Commissioner Brooke Cunningham said, “We are working now to figure out how much of this critical public health work we can save and continue.”
At the same time, over two dozen federally funded COVID-19 research grants have reportedly been canceled, setting back scientific advances made during the pandemic.
Political and Legal Stakes
The lawsuit also serves as a legal rebuke to the federal government’s decision-making process. North Carolina Representative Jeff Jackson noted, “There are legal ways to improve how tax dollars are used, but this wasn’t one of them,” according to Newsmax.
At the center of the legal complaint is the claim that the cuts were made arbitrarily, without congressional approval or proper procedural justification. Plaintiffs argue that federal law requires funds already allocated by Congress to be spent as directed, not unilaterally retracted.
The outcome of the case could have sweeping implications for federal-state relations and the future of public health infrastructure. With states still managing the fallout of COVID-19 and confronting ongoing public health crises, the stakes for this legal fight could not be higher.
