Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has co-led a coalition involving 23 states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The legal action challenges the abrupt termination of $11 billion in public health grants, which includes over $250 million designated for Minnesota.
These grants were crucial to public health responses such as infectious disease management, emergency preparedness, mental health services, and the enhancement of public health infrastructure. This unforeseen termination has created significant challenges for state health agencies relying on these funds.
Attorney General Ellison highlighted the potential damage, stating, “The Trump Administration are gluttons for breaking the law to weaken our country and put Americans in danger... I will use every tool at my disposal to protect Minnesotans and all Americans from the consequences of this dangerous law-breaking.”
The funds, authorized by Congress through COVID-19 relief legislation, were terminated by HHS on March 24 with the justification that the pandemic is over. However, Ellison and other attorneys general argue that this is not a lawful reason for ending the grants, which are not contingent on the pandemic's status.
In the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, the coalition is seeking a temporary restraining order to invalidate HHS's grant termination decisions, asserting that the actions breach the Administrative Procedure Act. The states aim to prevent the continuation or reinstatement of these terminations.
The lawsuit receives support from Attorney General Phil Weiser of Colorado, Attorney General Rob Bonta of California, Attorney General Peter Neronha of Rhode Island, Attorney General Nick Brown of Washington, and more. Additionally, governors from Kentucky and Pennsylvania have joined the suit.