A federal judge has issued a temporary block on the Trump administration’s attempt to retract millions in public health grants from four Democrat-led municipalities operating within Republican-controlled states.
The preliminary injunction, handed down by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., mandates the federal government to resume grant payments to Harris County, Texas (home to Houston), and the cities of Columbus, Ohio; Nashville, Tennessee; and Kansas City, Missouri at least until the lawsuit is fully resolved.
“The federal government cannot simply ignore Congress and pull the plug on essential services that communities rely on,” said Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, one of the plaintiffs. “Today’s decision ensures we can keep doing the work that protects our residents — from tracking disease outbreaks to providing vaccinations and supporting vulnerable families.”
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This marks the second time a federal court has ruled against the administration’s push to reclaim previously approved health funding. The plaintiffs, joined by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) argued that $11 billion in funding authorized by Congress and allocated through the CDC was being unlawfully withheld. They also contended the move violates regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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The federal government’s defense leaned on a post-pandemic rationale, stating, “Now that the pandemic is over, the grants and cooperative agreements are no longer necessary as their limited purpose has run out.” The same reasoning was used in a separate case involving 23 states and Washington, D.C., also challenging the clawback of HHS funding.
The plaintiffs warned that halting the grants could deliver “a massive blow to U.S. public health at a time where state and local public health departments need to address burgeoning infectious diseases and chronic illnesses, like the measles, bird flu, and mpox.” The lawsuit projected thousands of layoffs among state and local public health workers if the funding remained suspended.
Judge Cooper stopped short of granting a nationwide injunction. While the plaintiffs sought broader reinstatement of the grants, Cooper clarified that only the four jurisdictions named in the suit would benefit from the temporary relief. During a May 21 hearing, he raised doubts about whether a wider injunction would be legally appropriate.
The funding in question, totaling approximately $32.7 million in pending grant payments, was originally distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Menefee emphasized that the grants were meant to bolster long-term public health systems rather than serve as short-term emergency aid.
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Each of the affected cities outlined specific local impacts. In Harris County, Menefee said the cuts jeopardized disease surveillance via wastewater monitoring, community health worker initiatives, and vaccination outreach services. In Columbus, City Attorney Zach Klein reported the city was forced to let go 11 of its 22 infectious disease personnel due to the halted funds.
Nashville had used some of the grant money to sustain a post-pandemic “strike team” that filled health service gaps preventing children from enrolling in school, according to court filings.
Kansas City, meanwhile, was on the verge of launching its own local lab testing capacity for COVID-19, flu, and measles. The lawsuit noted that after four years of preparation, including training staff and certifying facilities, the city “was at the final step” of purchasing critical lab equipment when the grant was abruptly canceled.
As of Tuesday, representatives from HHS, the CDC, and the municipalities had not responded to requests for comment, according to an AP report.
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