Judge Blocks Trump $600M Health Grant Cuts to Democratic-Led States/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from rescinding $600 million in CDC health grants. Four Democratic-led states sued, calling the cuts unconstitutional and politically motivated. The ruling keeps funding flowing for at least 14 days as the case proceeds.
Quick Looks: Judge Halts CDC Health Grant Cuts
- $600 million in CDC grants temporarily protected
- States involved: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota
- Judge says states showed “irreparable harm”
- Funding supports HIV tracking and public health programs
- 14-day pause could be extended
Deep Look: Judge Blocks Trump Officials from Rescinding Health Grants
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cutting $600 million in public health grants allocated to four Democratic-led states, marking the latest legal setback for the administration’s efforts to reshape federal funding priorities.
U.S. District Judge Manish Shah in Illinois issued a 14-day restraining order Thursday preventing the cuts from taking effect. In his ruling, Shah wrote that the states demonstrated they would suffer “irreparable harm” if the funding were immediately withdrawn.
The decision ensures that money from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues flowing to state and local health departments — at least for now.
States Challenge Planned CDC Funding Cuts
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota. The states argue that the administration’s plan to rescind the grants unlawfully alters funding that Congress already approved.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is leading the legal challenge. He accused the administration of retaliating against Democratic-led states for opposing federal immigration enforcement policies.
“Targeting four Democrat-run states that are standing up to completely unrelated immigration policies is a transparent attempt to bully us into compliance,” Raoul said.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser noted that the first batch of funding could have been cut as early as Thursday had the court not intervened.
What the Grants Support
The grants in question fund programs that track disease outbreaks and study health outcomes among LGBTQ+ populations and communities of color in major cities.
Much of the funding supports efforts to combat HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, particularly among gay and bisexual men, adolescents and ethnic minorities.
The Department of Health and Human Services has said the terminations are part of a broader shift in CDC priorities, moving away from health equity initiatives — policies aimed at addressing disparities in care and outcomes among historically underserved groups.
Federal health officials did not immediately comment on the judge’s ruling.
Constitutional Questions Raised
The states’ lawsuit argues that the administration’s actions violate the Constitution by imposing retroactive conditions on funds that were already awarded by Congress.
They warn that losing the grants would force layoffs of hundreds of public health workers and disrupt critical health programs in urban areas.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the states will seek to extend the court’s temporary order for the duration of the case.
Broader Legal Battle Over Federal Funds
The ruling is one of several recent court decisions temporarily blocking administration efforts to withhold federal funds from Democratic-led states. Other disputes have involved cuts to food assistance programs, child care subsidies and electric vehicle infrastructure funding.
For now, the 14-day pause preserves the status quo. But the case could evolve into a larger constitutional fight over executive authority and Congress’ power of the purse — a clash that may ultimately reach higher courts.
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