• Posted April 4, 2025

Judge Blocks Cuts to $11 Billion in Public Health Funding

A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration from cutting $11 billion in public health funding -- at least for now.

U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, said Thursday that she would grant a temporary restraining order. The request came from 23 states and the District of Columbia, who argued the cuts would hurt their ability to provide adequate medical care.

“They make a case, a strong case, for the fact that they will succeed on the merits, so I’m going to grant the temporary restraining order,” McElroy said, as reported by The Associated Press.

A written ruling will follow.

New York Attorney General Letitia James tweeted about the decision on X. 

“We’re going to continue our lawsuit and fight to ensure states can provide the medical services Americans need,” James said.

The funding, approved by Congress during the pandemic, supports a wide range of programs, including COVID response and mental health care.

The states, who filed the lawsuit earlier this week, said loss of the funds would damage the U.S. public health system, cut off important services and make the country less prepared for future health emergencies.

Some states are already feeling the impact. Minnesota’s health department has laid off nearly 200 workers.

North Carolina says it could lose $230 million, while California expects to lose $1 billion, The Associated Press said.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said his state was at risk of losing a half-billion dollars. That money supports long-term care for older adults and vaccines for children.

“As a result of taking the Administration to court, these dollars will now start flowing again,” he wrote on X.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Kane objected to the judge’s decision in court but said her office didn’t have enough time to review the thousands of documents involved.

This ruling is one of many legal challenges to Trump’s policies. The administration is facing more than 150 lawsuits covering topics like immigration, cuts to federal programs and transgender rights.

More information

The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax policy group, is tracking ongoing federal budget cuts.

SOURCE: The Associated Press, April 3, 2025