A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s plan to drastically restructure the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which included cutting around 10,000 jobs and merging multiple agencies.
The injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose in Rhode Island, came in response to a lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia.
The states argued that the proposed changes would severely impair HHS’s ability to carry out its legal duties, particularly within key agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Office of Head Start, the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
Judge DuBose agreed, stating that the executive branch lacks authority to implement such sweeping organisational changes without Congressional approval, describing the actions as “arbitrary and capricious as well as contrary to law.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James praised the ruling, saying, “Today’s order guarantees these programs and services will remain accessible and halts the administration’s attempt to sabotage our nation’s health care system.” Meanwhile, HHS defended the restructuring as necessary to address inefficiency and bureaucracy.
The job cuts aimed to reduce federal spending and streamline government operations. Critics warned that the reductions had already led to lab closures and suspended research, jeopardising public health preparedness.
The court’s decision halted the planned layoffs just as they were about to take effect, with some employees reinstated amid concerns over risks to public health.