Multiple States Sue Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Over HHS Job Cuts

A coalition of states, including California, New York, and others, is suing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding significant job cuts within the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS). This legal action, filed on Monday, highlights concerns that the reductions are undermining the department’s ability to function effectively.

The lawsuit, which includes plaintiffs from Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, and several others, was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. It specifically targets Kennedy’s directive from March 27, which entails cutting roughly 10,000 jobs. At the time, the HHS justified this move by stating it would save about $1.8 billion annually, a response to an executive order issued by President Trump.

However, the lawsuit claims that the Trump administration has rendered the department incapable of performing its essential duties. It details an abrupt halt in operations following the mass termination notices sent out on April 1, 2025. “When employees were quickly locked out of their work emails and offices, it caused a serious disruption,” the suit argues. Important functions across HHS were unable to proceed, from testing for infectious diseases to essential trainings and partnerships, all of which faced immediate suspension.

The complaint goes on to state that crucial deadlines were missed, including vaccine applications and testing for bird flu, leading to significant halts in public health initiatives.

The coalition of states is urging the court to put a stop to the widespread layoffs and reverse what they describe as an unlawful reorganization, advocating for the restoration of vital health services.

Furthermore, the lawsuit criticizes the closure of half of HHS’s ten regional offices, including one in San Francisco, asserting that the reorganization exceeds presidential authority and breaches the Administrative Procedure Act and other constitutional doctrines.

These job cuts particularly impact several key agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. The lawsuit lists officials from these agencies as defendants alongside Kennedy.

According to the complaint, Kennedy did not execute the restructuring of the department in a methodical or lawful manner. He acknowledged the likelihood of mistakes, even suggesting that around 20% of the job reductions could be erroneous.

The lawsuit emphasizes the severe and complicated repercussions of these rapid changes, which the plaintiff states are already facing.

In defense, Kennedy argues that restructuring the department from 28 divisions to 15 is a necessary step toward increasing governmental efficiency. He claims this approach will not only reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies but will also help address chronic health issues more effectively while reducing costs for taxpayers.