A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to rescind $11 billion in pandemic-related public health funding, siding with 23 states that argued the cuts would devastate critical health programs.
U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump appointee, issued the restraining order after finding states demonstrated a strong likelihood of success in their lawsuit and proved the potential for “irreparable harm” if funding disappeared.
The contested money supports wide-ranging initiatives including infectious disease tracking, immunization programs, mental health services, and emergency preparedness infrastructure.
State attorneys general emphasized Congress deliberately maintained this funding even after clawing back $27 billion in other COVID-19 relief, intending it to address both pandemic recovery and enduring public health needs.
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned terminating the grants would “reverse progress on the opioid crisis” and “throw mental health systems into chaos,” while forcing layoffs of public health workers nationwide.
The ruling represents a significant check on the administration’s efforts to roll back pandemic-era programs, with the court rejecting the argument that funding expiration should automatically follow the official COVID-19 emergency declaration.
As litigation continues, the temporary freeze preserves health services affecting millions of Americans while the legal battle over congressional spending authority plays out.
The case highlights growing tensions between state and federal governments over who controls public health resources as the country transitions from emergency response to long-term recovery.
