A coalition of municipalities from Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, and Missouri, alongside public workers represented by AFSCME, won an injunction against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), halting the unlawful termination of essential funding. These grants, worth over $11 billion, are vital for public health initiatives, including tracking infectious diseases and providing vaccinations. The court ordered HHS to continue issuing these grants while the case, Harris County et al. v. Kennedy, proceeds, but declined to issue a broader nationwide injunction.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee emphasized the ruling’s significance for protecting residents and essential health services. Nashville’s legal director, Wally Dietz, noted the importance of preventing grant rescissions authorized by Congress. While AFSCME President Lee Saunders expressed disappointment at the limited relief, he vowed to continue fighting for public health funding.
Earlier in the year, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had eliminated crucial funding citing the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the grants also supporting efforts against other infectious diseases like avian flu and measles. The Democracy Forward legal team is representing the coalition, highlighting the urgency of preserving public health services amid ongoing health threats.
