A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from proceeding with sweeping layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ruling the move was likely unlawful and had already caused “irreparable harm” to states.
U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose sided with a coalition of attorneys general from 19 states and the District of Columbia, who challenged the layoffs in court. In her decision, DuBose wrote that the states were likely to succeed in their argument that the HHS mass firings were “arbitrary and capricious” and violated federal law. She ordered HHS to file a status report by July 11.
“The executive branch does not have the authority to order, organize, or implement wholesale changes to the structure and function of the agencies created by Congress,” DuBose stated in the ruling.
Background: 10,000+ Health Workers Cut
In March, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered the termination of more than 10,000 federal employees and merged 28 HHS agencies down to 15 as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. The restructuring was modeled in part after recommendations from Elon Musk’s former Department of Government Efficiency.
Though the plan was framed as a cost-cutting and streamlining effort, critics say it dismantled vital public health functions. Among the programs affected were those monitoring HIV, hepatitis, tobacco regulation, food safety, maternal health, and infant care.
Some agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have already walked back hundreds of layoffs after realizing the extent of disruption to disease prevention efforts. Kennedy has since acknowledged that around 20% of those terminated may have been let go in error and could be reinstated.
Legal Challenge: “Destruction of Essential Health Programs”
The coalition of state attorneys general argued that the mass firings and restructuring far exceeded the legal authority granted to HHS. Their lawsuit claimed that the cuts eliminated core health programs and pushed enormous costs onto states that were left to fill the gap.
“The intended effect … was the wholesale elimination of many HHS programs that are critical to public health and safety,” the suit alleges.
DuBose’s injunction blocks terminations in several critical offices, including:
- The CDC
- The Center for Tobacco Products (under the FDA)
- The Office of Head Start (under the Administration for Children and Families)
- The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
RFK Jr.’s Controversial Health Stance
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-time purveyor of health misinformation, has repeatedly made debunked claims about vaccines, wireless technology, and pharmaceutical safety. He has falsely linked vaccines to autism and suggested COVID-19 was exaggerated to promote vaccine sales. He has also claimed, without evidence, that fluoride is toxic and mass shootings are tied to prescription medications.
In 2023, members of his own family publicly denounced his remarks. His sister Kerry Kennedy called his COVID-related statements “deplorable and untruthful,” while his brother Joseph Kennedy II accused him of spreading “antisemitic myths” and misinformation that dishonored the legacy of their father, Robert F. Kennedy.
With DuBose’s ruling now in effect, the Trump administration faces mounting pressure to justify the legality and consequences of its drastic overhaul of the nation’s public health infrastructure.
