Article Summary:
A federal judge has ruled that recent mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were likely unlawful and ordered the Trump administration to halt plans to downsize and reorganize the nation’s health workforce. U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose granted a preliminary injunction sought by a coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia, who had filed a lawsuit claiming the cuts were “arbitrary and capricious” as well as “contrary to law.”
DuBose stated that the executive branch does not have the authority to unilaterally restructure agencies created by Congress. She found that the states had demonstrated “irreparable harm” from the layoffs and were likely to prevail in their legal challenge. The judge’s order blocks the administration from finalizing the announced job cuts or issuing further firings.
The ruling applies to employees across several HHS divisions, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, and the Office of Head Start. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had previously eliminated over 10,000 HHS positions and consolidated 28 agencies into 15, as part of a directive to streamline the department.
However, the attorneys general argued this massive restructuring exceeded the agency’s authority and decimated essential public health programs. DuBose agreed, noting that states had lost critical funding, guidance, and expertise as a result of the cuts.
While the administration maintains the changes were necessary to address “chaos and disorganization” at HHS, the court has ordered it to halt the downsizing and provide a status update by July 11.