A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to halt planned cuts to billions of dollars in federal public health funding. U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy issued a preliminary injunction on Friday, siding with a coalition of states led by Democrats who argued the cuts would devastate crucial health programs.
The ruling allows the continued flow of approximately $11 billion in funds, originally allocated by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic to support mental health, substance abuse treatment, and pandemic response infrastructure.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha praised the decision, calling it a vital victory for public health. “Without our health, we have nothing. This injunction is a major win,” he said. He also criticized what he described as a reckless approach to budget cutting, warning it would harm communities across the country.
The lawsuit, filed on April 1 by 23 states and the District of Columbia, challenged the federal government’s plan to end the funding. Plaintiffs argued that withdrawing the money would dismantle public health systems built during the pandemic, leaving states unprepared for future health crises.
Federal officials contended that since the pandemic emergency has ended, the funding is no longer necessary. However, Judge McElroy rejected that argument, stating that the Department of Health and Human Services overstepped its authority by unilaterally deciding to revoke the funds. She also found that the agency failed to follow the required legal process for terminating block grant programs.
Calling the federal government’s justification “puzzling,” McElroy emphasized that evidence presented in court showed the loss of funding would significantly harm healthcare programs, particularly those related to mental health and addiction services. She noted the funds were also being used to support vaccination campaigns and bolster disease surveillance and laboratory capacity to prepare for future threats.
“The Court could go on,” she wrote, underscoring the depth of impact these cuts would have.
The injunction is limited to the states that joined the lawsuit. Federal officials are required to show proof of compliance with the court’s order by Tuesday evening.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of the lawsuit’s leading figures, reaffirmed her commitment to the case. “We’re going to keep fighting to protect the health and well-being of millions of Americans,” she posted on social media shortly after the ruling.
Local health departments have already reported staff layoffs after the Trump administration began reclaiming the funds in late March, heightening concerns over the strain on public health resources.
