New York Attorney General Leticia James announced on Monday that the Trump administration, which is spearheading a coalition of 20 states advocating for cuts in public health funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is engaging in what she labeled the most “calamitous and unlawful assault on public health” in American history.
The lawsuit, launched by James alongside other state attorneys general, accuses the Trump administration of “breaching numerous laws and regulations” in its attempts to dismantle HHS. Specifically, they claim this effort involves cutting the HHS workforce down to 20,000 employees and terminating crucial health programs nationwide.
James emphasized, “This administration isn’t streamlining the federal government; they’re obstructing it,” during a press conference intended to shed light on the implications of these cuts for Americans in New York and beyond.
She warned that if crucial personnel, like scientists studying infectious diseases, are let go, it could endanger essential services for vulnerable populations, including pregnant individuals, firefighters, and children. “This approach doesn’t support American health,” she added.
James asserted that these governmental actions are, in her view, dangerous and unlawful, violating federal laws concerning Congressional authority. She stated, “That’s why I am initiating lawsuits along with various Democratic Attorneys General to prevent this administration from dismantling our public health framework.”
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, asks the court to intervene and halt the illegal dismantling of HHS, which the plaintiff argues threatens life-saving programs that serve millions of citizens.
New York is collaborating with a wide range of other states, including Arizona, California, and Illinois, in this legal action. The complaint highlights concerns that the Trump administration’s moves threaten to erase “decades of public health progress.”
James noted that the administration’s actions violate the Constitution and various laws about the proper use of government funds. The measures reportedly involve eliminating 10,000 full-time employees and condensing 28 agencies into just 15, while also closing half of HHS’s regional offices.
At her press conference, James pointed to cases where HHS would cease testing for measles amid an ongoing outbreak. The Wadsworth Center in New York, one of the remaining facilities capable of detecting rare infectious diseases, is reportedly struggling to compensate for deficiencies left by the weakened CDC.
Her comments came on the heels of significant layoffs within HHS, affecting major agencies such as the FDA and CDC, which have drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans.
Additionally, the lawsuit concerns reductions in services, including those assessing eligibility for SNAP and Medicaid for low-income or disabled individuals, along with layoff of the CDC’s entire maternal health team.
According to the plaintiff, these layoffs were unnecessary given the increased Congressional budgets in recent years. They argue that roughly 20,000 positions—about a quarter of HHS staff—are poised to be eliminated to save less than 1% of the department’s spending.
The lawsuit seeks to prevent these actions and restore programs disrupted by the proposed reorganization, labeling it as “unconstitutional and illegal.” It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first lawsuit initiated by James against Trump since he began his second term—she has already joined over a dozen other cases contesting his recent decisions.
