In a significant legal challenge, twenty attorneys general, including the prominent AGs of New York, California, Colorado, and Michigan, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. This lawsuit, initiated on Monday, addresses the administration's recent mass firings and the controversial dismantling of various agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Leading the charge is New York Attorney General Letitia James, who claims the administration has violated numerous laws and circumvented congressional authority. The lawsuit contends that the administration is attempting to reduce the number of HHS agencies from 28 to 15 while laying off approximately 20,000 employees. During a press conference, James characterized the terminations as “dangerous, cruel and illegal,” asserting that the administration is not streamlining the federal government but rather “sabotaging it.”
James further emphasized the public health implications of these layoffs, stating, “When you fire the scientists who research infectious diseases, silence the doctors who care for pregnant people, and shut down the programs that help firefighters and miners breathe or children thrive, you are not making America healthy — you are putting countless lives at risk.”
The HHS announced its restructuring plan in late March as part of a broader initiative by the Department of Government Efficiency aimed at reducing the federal workforce. Notably, this plan included cuts such as 3,500 employees from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2,400 employees from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 1,200 employees from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
As part of this restructuring, HHS announced the creation of a new agency, the Administration for a Healthy America, intended to absorb some responsibilities from the agencies that were terminated. This includes managing programs that focus on mental health, environmental health, and worker health. However, the lawsuit argues that these cuts will lead to “severe, complicated, drawn-out, and potentially irreversible” consequences for public health.
The attorneys general highlighted in a press release that these drastic changes have severely hampered HHS's ability to perform essential functions. Specifically, they indicated that the restructuring has heavily impacted mental health services, compromised the nation’s response to HIV/AIDS, and reduced support for low-income families and individuals with disabilities.
Furthermore, the lawsuit details that the Trump administration terminated staff responsible for maintaining federal poverty guidelines, which are crucial for determining eligibility for food assistance, housing support, and Medicaid. Additionally, cuts were made to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which assists families with heating and cooling costs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one of the dismantled HHS agencies, has seen half its workforce cut, resulting in halting critical surveys and services.
According to the press release, the CDC has lost several labs responsible for tracking infectious diseases, including teams focused on tobacco control and monitoring maternal mortality in the U.S. James pointed out the alarming consequences of these cuts, noting, “The federal government has cut lab capacity so much that they have all but stopped testing for measles in the middle of an unprecedented measles outbreak.”
She added that New York’s public health lab, the Wadsworth Center, is struggling to fill the gap left by a weakened CDC, which has traditionally played a crucial role in public health surveillance.
The lawsuit calls for HHS to immediately cease its dismantling efforts and restore critical programs that have been eliminated. James announced that her office plans to request a preliminary injunction later this week to temporarily block any further cuts by the Trump administration.
This lawsuit highlights the growing concerns surrounding the impact of government restructuring on public health and the vital services provided by HHS. As the case unfolds, the implications for health policy and community support systems remain a critical focus for the attorneys general involved.
