Attorney General Aaron M. Frey has joined a coalition to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The legal action, including 23 states' attorneys general and the District of Columbia, seeks to reverse nearly $11 billion in public health grant cuts.
These grants, terminated without advance notice, have adversely affected state health agencies. The funding was essential for handling infectious diseases, emergency preparedness, and providing mental health services. Maine, in particular, faces a loss exceeding $91 million. If funds are not restored, crucial health programs may cease, posing risks amid rising disease threats like measles and bird flu.
Congress initially approved and increased funding through COVID-19 legislation aimed at bolstering public health needs. Despite this, HHS terminated these grants, citing the pandemic's end as the reason. The attorneys general argue that this reason does not align with federal law as grant funds were not specifically linked to the pandemic's end.
The coalition has filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, asserting that HHS's actions violate federal law and seeking a temporary restraining order. They aim to invalidate the terminations and prevent HHS from reinstating them. The effort involves multiple states and is a coordinated action led by several attorneys general, including Attorney General Phil Weiser of Colorado and Attorney General Rob Bonta of California.
This move represents a critical collaboration between state offices to address and challenge the abrupt funding terminations deemed unlawful. Organizations and officials from across the U.S. are participating, including support from governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.