The administration of President Donald Trump must halt the cutting of billions in Federal funding for the public health sector, a federal judge stated on Friday.
Rhode Island’s US District Judge Mary McElroy granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed last month by a coalition of Democratic-led states, allowing funds to keep flowing.
“Without health, we truly have nothing. That’s why today’s preliminary injunction is a vital victory,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronya in a statement. “A reckless approach to government cuts will not yield positive outcomes for the American populace.”
The lawsuit, initiated on April 1st, aimed to prevent a $11 billion reduction that threatens to dismantle the public health infrastructure nationwide. Funds allocated by Congress during the pandemic support initiatives related to Covid-19, as well as mental health and substance abuse efforts.
The federal government contended that states no longer require these funds, citing the end of the pandemic. However, McElroy, who issued a temporary restraining order last month, stated in her ruling that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lacks the authority to declare that the need for funds has ceased.
She further remarked that the agency neglected to comply with various regulations governing the termination of the block grant program and called for a federal review of its decisions, which she described as “inexplicable.”
According to McElroy, the federal decision to withdraw funding represents not just an economic setback, but that “ample evidence” from the state indicates that it is exacerbating mental health and substance abuse issues, leading to deteriorating public health outcomes and endangering residents.
Before concluding, she highlighted specific funded initiatives, such as vaccination efforts and the establishment of disease surveillance and laboratories for “future health threats.”
The injunction applies exclusively to the states involved in the lawsuit. The federal government is required to submit a document affirming compliance with the order by Tuesday evening.
“We will persist in our legal actions to safeguard the health and well-being of millions of Americans,” New York Attorney General Letitia James posted on X shortly after the ruling.
Health departments nationwide report staff layoffs resulting from funding reductions initiated by the Trump administration since late March.
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Source: apnews.com