WASHINGTON – Democratic governors and attorneys general from 23 states and Washington, D.C., are suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over an $11 billion cut to public health grants. The funding, originally approved by Congress during the pandemic, supported testing, vaccination, addiction treatment, and mental health programs.
“Slashing this funding now will reverse our progress on the opioid crisis, throw our mental health systems into chaos, and leave hospitals struggling to care for patients,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement.
The lawsuit argues that the cuts are illegal and that the federal government failed to provide a “rational basis” or evidence to justify them. Attorneys general warn that the move will cause immediate and irreparable damage in communities across the nation.
“Programs that provide harm reduction services, medication-assisted recovery treatment, and overdose reversal drugs are set to be slashed, just as the nation begins to turn a corner on fighting the opioid crisis and reducing overdose deaths. Funding for crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and community-based mental health care is at risk while the nation is currently facing an unprecedented mental health crisis,” said James in the statement.
HHS has defended the decision, stating that the funding is no longer necessary because the COVID-19 pandemic is over. However, the lawsuit contends that much of the money was never meant solely for COVID-19 response—it was intended to strengthen long-term public health infrastructure, pandemic preparedness, and behavioral health services.
“Amid the ongoing overdose crisis, it is critical that these services remain intact and available for those who need them,” said OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham.
