Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, joined by representatives from 22 other states, has initiated a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The lawsuit challenges the abrupt termination of nearly $11 billion in public health grants. This legal action took place in the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island and aims to address the sudden withdrawal of funds previously allocated for pressing public health needs.
Neronha criticized the funding cuts, stating that it significantly impacts state health agencies that rely on these resources for infectious disease management, emergency preparedness, and mental health services, among other areas. He emphasized that the cuts endanger key programs, including those ensuring childhood vaccination and addressing health disparities in low-income communities.
“These cuts will defund programs which ensure our children are properly vaccinated and immunized from preventable disease, and which address health disparities in low-income communities,” said Neronha. He further described the actions as “plain cruel” and stressed the need to stop them.
The lawsuit claims that the termination of these grants is illegal, as the rationale behind them—that the pandemic is over—is not a valid reason for their cessation. Additionally, the suit argues that some grants were illegally terminated as they were not bound to the pandemic's conclusion.
HHS had previously stated that the end of the pandemic would not alter the availability of the grant funds. The public health programs at risk include childhood vaccination and immunization, support for high-risk and underserved populations, and laboratory testing.
The coalition of attorneys general is seeking a court order to prevent the termination of the grants. They argue these cuts violate the Administrative Procedure Act. The group hopes to nullify the HHS's recent decision and halt any efforts to enforce this termination.
The legal challenge is co-led by attorneys general from Colorado, California, Minnesota, and Washington, with additional support from attorneys general across several other states, including Arizona, Connecticut, and New York.