On Wednesday, four states led by Democratic administrations—California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota—filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's administration in an effort to block the withholding of hundreds of millions of dollars in public health grants. This legal action follows an announcement made by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Monday regarding plans to cut approximately $600 million in grant funding designated for these states.
The attorneys general of the involved states argue that these funding cuts are retaliatory measures due to their opposition to Trump's immigration policies. According to the lawsuit, which has been filed in a federal court in Illinois, such cuts violate the Constitution by imposing retroactive conditions on federal funding. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the fact that some grants could be cut as early as Thursday, with others facing similar fates in the following weeks, according to Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.
Health officials from the Trump administration have justified the decision to withhold the grants by stating that these funds are "inconsistent with agency priorities," given a shift away from programs aimed at specific populations, including LGBTQ+ communities and people of color. In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its priorities, describing health equity as an "ideologically-laden" concept that "has undermined core American values."
In addition to the health grants, the administration is also looking to pull hundreds of millions of dollars in transportation funding from the same four states. Previous court rulings have temporarily blocked similar attempts by the Trump administration to restrict federal funds. For instance, a recent court ruling determined that the administration cannot currently cut off billions in child care subsidies and other social services for lower-income families in Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, and New York.
The proposed funding cuts include substantial reductions aimed at programs designed to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, particularly in urban areas such as Chicago and Los Angeles, where the focus is on at-risk groups including adolescents and ethnic minorities. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the funding cuts as "a slap in the face" to public health officials, particularly as the Trump administration is perceived to be dismantling public health infrastructure.
Additionally, the administration aims to target a $7.2 million grant awarded to the Chicago-based American Medical Association, citing its advocacy for gender-affirming care for minors, which contradicts a Trump executive order that opposes such practices. Other vital grants contribute to tracking disease outbreaks and compiling public health data that the CDC relies upon for its operations.
California stands to experience the most significant impact from the planned funding cuts. Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized that these reductions will "irreparably harm" public health in the state. He accused President Trump of employing a familiar strategy, asserting that the use of federal funding to coerce compliance with his administration's agenda has historically failed and will likely do so again.
