A coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia has sued the Trump administration, claiming its mass layoffs and restructuring at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) violate constitutional limits on executive power.
Nate Raymond reports for Reuters.
In short:
- The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Rhode Island, challenges the dismissal of 10,000 HHS employees and the consolidation of 28 divisions into 15, arguing these actions undermine public health functions and bypass congressional authority.
- The states allege the cuts have crippled disease labs, suspended scientific research, and delayed key public health actions, including vaccine approvals and bird flu testing.
- The restructuring, part of a cost-cutting initiative by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, aims to save $1.8 billion annually, but opponents say it threatens public health and forces states to absorb federal responsibilities.
Key quote:
"You are not making America healthy – you are putting countless lives at risk."
— Letitia James, New York Attorney General
Why this matters:
The dismantling of significant portions of HHS could have far-reaching impacts on public health. With the closure of infectious disease labs, delayed vaccine approvals, and elimination of programs addressing maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and early childhood development, the cuts risk undermining the United States' ability to respond to threats. States already stretched thin may face mounting pressures to fill these gaps, increasing the potential for service delays and missed disease outbreaks. This reshaping of HHS also raises deep constitutional concerns, as it tests the boundaries of executive power and the federal government’s obligation to maintain public health infrastructure.
Read more: Editorial: Public health protections unravel as U.S. science agencies face political cuts
