Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced a lawsuit against the Trump Administration's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), challenging the termination of $11 billion in public health funding. Bonta leads a coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia in filing the lawsuit against HHS and its Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, argues that the abrupt termination of funding is unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

The federal funding in question, initially appropriated by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, was intended to enhance the United States' preparedness for future health threats. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to restore the funding to prevent irreparable harm to state and local health agencies.

In support of the legal action, Attorney General Bonta stated, "Over and over, I’ve made clear that my office will only take legal action against the Trump Administration when it breaks the law. Unfortunately, but predictably, that has happened once again."

The Trump Administration has justified the funding cuts by asserting that the money is "no longer necessary" as the pandemic has ended. However, the attorneys general claim this decision violates the APA, arguing that terminations "for cause" require proof of non-compliance with grant terms, which was not presented. They also allege that HHS failed to provide required notice or offer the opportunity for hearings before terminating the grants.

Bonta highlighted the adverse effects of the funding cuts, noting significant financial losses for California, which faces the loss of over $972 million. Programs affected include vaccination efforts, health services in emergencies, and youth substance use prevention.

The lawsuit is co-led by the attorneys general from Colorado, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Washington, with additional support from other states and jurisdictions. The coalition argues that the termination notices are arbitrary and capricious, lacking necessary individualized assessments and misinterpretations of the legal scope of COVID-19 funding laws.

The consequences of the funding withdrawal extend beyond California, threatening essential public health programs across multiple states. The attorneys general hope to reverse the funding terminations to safeguard public health services and programs nationwide.