A federal judge has decided to place a temporary hold on actions by President Trump’s administration that would significantly cut funding for COVID-19 support and various public health programs across the United States.
U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy, who has connections to both Trump and former President Obama, stated that she is inclined to issue a temporary restraining order in response to a lawsuit filed by 23 states and the District of Columbia. She noted that these states presented a strong argument suggesting they would likely win if the case went to trial.
New York Attorney General Letitia James quickly took to social media to express her satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that states can deliver necessary medical services to the public.
In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Kane challenged the restraining order, expressing concern that her office did not have enough time to review the extensive documentation needed to argue against the funding cuts effectively.
The lawsuit, initiated earlier this week, aimed to prevent the administration from moving forward with approximately $11 billion in funding cuts, money that was designated by Congress during the pandemic for COVID-related initiatives, mental health programs, and substance use efforts. The states argued that losing this funding would severely harm public health systems, place states at higher risk for future health crises, and disrupt essential health services.
The Department of Health and Human Services defended its stance, arguing that the funding was no longer necessary since the pandemic has subsided. However, there are alarming reports of layoffs within state health departments, with Minnesota alone cutting nearly 200 positions. North Carolina anticipates losing $230 million, while California could see its funding reduced by as much as $1 billion.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, also involved in the lawsuit, highlighted that his state risks losing half a billion dollars in public health grants crucial for elderly care and child immunizations. Following the judge’s ruling, he remarked on social media that essential funding will resume.
This latest legal challenge adds to a growing list of setbacks for the Trump administration, which is currently entangled in around 150 lawsuits over a variety of issues, including immigration policies and significant budget cuts to federal programs. Federal judges have been actively stepping in to halt or delay many of the administration’s more aggressive initiatives.
