A federal judge has temporarily blocked an attempt by the administration of Donald Trump to withdraw hundreds of millions of dollars in public health funding earmarked for four states governed by Democrats.
The ruling, delivered Thursday by Manish Shah, prevents the cancellation of $600 million in grants, at least for the next two weeks. The judge determined the states had demonstrated they would face immediate and lasting damage if the funding was abruptly halted. His order ensures that payments from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue reaching state and local health departments, along with affiliated organizations, while the legal battle unfolds.
The lawsuit was filed by officials in California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota, who moved quickly to stop the funding withdrawal a day before the first grants were expected to be cancelled. According to Colorado’s top legal officer, Phil Weiser, the earliest cuts were scheduled to begin Thursday before the court stepped in.
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Federal authorities under the Department of Health and Human Services argued that the grants no longer align with the CDC’s updated policy direction. The revised approach reflects the administration’s move away from initiatives centered on health equity, which aim to direct additional resources toward groups disproportionately affected by illness.
The funding in question has supported programs designed to monitor disease outbreaks and examine health outcomes among LGBTQ+ populations and communities of colour in large metropolitan areas. A substantial share has also helped local health officials curb the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, particularly among gay and bisexual men, teenagers and ethnic minority groups.
Federal health officials did not issue an immediate response following the court’s decision, the AP reported.
Leaders in the four states maintain the proposed funding cuts are politically motivated, claiming they are being punished for opposing the administration’s immigration enforcement measures. The states have also faced reductions in other federal assistance programs, including support tied to food aid, childcare and electric vehicle infrastructure.
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The legal challenge is being coordinated by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who contends the cuts violate constitutional protections by attaching new requirements to funding that Congress had already approved.
“Targeting four Democrat-run states that are standing up to his completely unrelated immigration policies is a transparent attempt to bully us into compliance,” Raoul said. “The president may be playing politics with critical public health funding, including more than $100 million to Illinois, but our residents are the ones who pay the price.”
Attorneys general involved in the case warn that losing the funding would likely result in widespread layoffs across public health agencies.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the coalition plans to request that the court extend the temporary block until the case is fully resolved.
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Similar disputes are already moving through the courts. Judges have previously halted other attempts by the administration to eliminate billions in support for childcare and social assistance programs affecting the same states, along with New York.
