PA Suing Trump Administration Over Cuts To Public Health Grants

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania is suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after the agency abruptly terminated nearly $11 billion in public health grants to states, including more than $500 million in federal funding for the Commonwealth.

On Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro said the cuts would terminate funding for state public health programs that prevent the spread of infectious diseases like measles and bird flu. Vaccinations and mental health and substance abuse services would also be affected.

“The federal government broke its half billion-dollar contract with the Commonwealth and, as a result of this unlawful action, is undermining our ability to protect the health of Pennsylvania’s children and families,” Shapiro said in a statement. “It is my job to defend the taxpayers of this Commonwealth, and this is funding owed to the people of Pennsylvania."

Pennsylvania joins 22 other states and the District of Columbia in filing the lawsuit against the agency and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The lawsuit argues the cuts are illegal, and that the federal government did not provide “rational basis” or facts to support them. The attorneys general say it will result in “serious harm to public health” and put states “at greater risk for future pandemics and the spread of otherwise preventable disease and cutting off vital public health services.”

The lawsuit asks the court to immediately stop the Trump administration from rescinding the money allocated by Congress during the pandemic and mostly used for COVID-related efforts such as testing and vaccination. The money also went to addiction and mental health programs.

"When I sign a legally binding agreement, I follow through with it — and with today’s action, I’m just asking our federal government to do the same," Shapiro said.

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department, which began serving employees dismissal notices on Tuesday in what’s expected to total 10,000 layoffs, told The Associated Press it does not comment on ongoing litigation.

HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon pointed to the agency's statement from last week, when the decision to claw back the money was announced. The HHS said then that it “will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago.”

The litigation comes a month after Pennsylvania filed a separate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s freeze of federal funds despite multiple court orders to release them.

The funding was released 11 days after Shapiro accused the government of withholding it illegally and unconstitutionally.