Attorney General Charity Clark has filed a lawsuit against Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and other Trump administration officials. The legal action aims to stop what is described as the illegal dismantling of HHS, which includes firing thousands of federal health workers and closing vital programs.
Clark, joined by 19 other attorneys general, argues that these actions have deprived HHS of essential resources needed to serve the American public effectively. "This is an illegal attack on our public health infrastructure," said Attorney General Clark. "Secretary Kennedy and the Trump Administration are acting outside the boundaries of statute and violating the Constitution."
The lawsuit responds to Secretary Kennedy's announcement on March 27 regarding a significant restructuring under the president’s “Department of Government Efficiency” initiative. This plan reduces HHS’s agencies from 28 to 15, involves mass firings, and closes half of its regional offices in major cities like Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle.
The attorneys general argue that these changes have severely impacted the health system. Programs for miners with black lung disease have been shut down, access to N95 masks has been disrupted due to laboratory closures, and key CDC infectious disease labs have ceased operations.
The coalition contends that these actions violate numerous federal statutes and regulations without congressional approval. They claim this disregards constitutional separation of powers and undermines laws meant to protect public health.
The group seeks a court order to halt further firings, reverse the reorganization, and restore critical health services. Joining Clark in this lawsuit are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
This case marks Attorney General Clark's thirteenth lawsuit against the Trump administration since January.