Legal Battle Over HHS Restructuring
A legal storm is brewing as 19 states, alongside Washington, D.C., challenge recent reductions within the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) department. The restructuring, initiated under the Trump administration, has raised concerns about its impact on essential health programs.
On Monday, a collective lawsuit was submitted in a Rhode Island federal court, spearheaded by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The legal action includes representation from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
According to the attorneys general, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. implemented significant changes in March, reducing the workforce by over 10,000 employees and consolidating 28 agencies into 15 within the HHS framework. This follows an earlier reduction of 10,000 employees during President Donald Trump’s tenure, collectively amounting to a 25% cut in staff.
“In its first three months, Secretary Kennedy and this administration deprived HHS of the resources necessary to do its job,” the attorneys general wrote.
The administration’s justification for these layoffs is a move to streamline operations and eliminate redundancies, under the directive dubbed ” Make America Healthy Again.”
HHS, known for being one of the most financially demanding federal agencies, manages an annual budget of approximately $1.7 trillion, primarily allocated for Medicare and Medicaid services.
James criticized the restructuring as a “sweeping and unlawful assault” posing risks to public health. “This is not government reform. This is not efficiency,” she stated at a press conference.
The attorneys general argue that the cuts have led to limited testing capabilities for infectious diseases, a lack of federal tracking for cancer risks among firefighters, and uncertainty in funding for early childhood programs. Additionally, programs focusing on cancer and maternal health have been shuttered, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ability to manage a recent measles outbreak has been compromised.
They contend that the disruption was an intended outcome of the “MAHA Directive,” urging the court to nullify the directive, stating that the administration lacks the authority to unilaterally dismantle programs and funding established by Congress.
The restructuring’s impact extends to the elimination of the team responsible for federal poverty guidelines, which are crucial for determining eligibility for Medicaid and nutrition assistance. A significant reduction was also noted in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The Trump administration is simultaneously defending against other lawsuits concerning cuts to public health funding. Recently, 23 states filed a lawsuit in Rhode Island against the decision to reduce $11 billion in federal funds for COVID-19-related initiatives and various public health projects across the nation.
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