Attorney General Nick Brown, representing Washington state, has joined a group of 24 states in a lawsuit aimed at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The case challenges the unexpected termination of $11 billion in public health grants essential for various state health initiatives.
The lawsuit arises from what Brown described as the illegal revocation of funds with no prior notice or valid legal basis, causing substantial disruption for state health agencies. These agencies depend on federal support for key tasks such as infectious disease control, emergency preparedness, mental health and substance abuse services, and public health infrastructure modernization.
Brown criticized the decision: "We can’t make America healthy by spreading preventable diseases. Aside from the illegality of these actions, the administration is also choosing to neglect the biggest public health challenges, including substance abuse and mental health crises, facing our communities."
The state of Washington alone faces a potential loss exceeding $159 million. This would threaten essential programs, including the Care-A-Van mobile health clinics which serve vulnerable groups like BIPOC communities, immigrants, refugees, and others. Additionally, the state's Health Care Authority, which aids low-income individuals with mental health and substance use disorders, is at risk.
The HHS decision has further implications at a time when diseases such as measles and bird flu are emerging, according to Brown. The cuts ignore recent congressional actions increasing funding to meet public health demands in the COVID-19 aftermath. Congress has sanctioned specific programs, including mental health and substance abuse block grants; however, HHS halted these grants on March 24 without clear legal foundation, claiming the pandemic's end negates their necessity.
Filed in the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, the lawsuit argues that the terminations breach federal law, given that the cessation of the pandemic does not justify ending the grants. The coalition seeks a court order to invalidate the terminations, asserting they contravene the Administrative Procedure Act. They also request that HHS be barred from continuing or reinstating these grant cuts.
This legal action is spearheaded by Attorneys General Brown (Washington), Phil Weiser (Colorado), Peter Neronha (Rhode Island), Rob Bonta (California), and Keith Ellison (Minnesota). Attorneys General from various states, alongside Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, are included in this initiative.
Visit www.atg.wa.gov for more information on Washington's Attorney General's Office.