Delaware and a coalition of states are suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
DELAWARE. – Delaware and a coalition of other states are suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
This comes after the department terminated nearly $12 billion, in public health grant funding to states. The funds are used for health needs like infectious disease management, mental health, and substance abuse services.
Delaware is set to lose more men than $38 million from the cuts. Josette Manning, the Cabinet Secretary for the Delaware of Health and Social Services, said these funds are critical. “This lawsuit being filed is challenging the president’s ability to overrule Congress’s decision to allocate these funds in this way.”
Judge Mary S. McElroy of Rhode Island awarded plaintiffs with a temporary restraining order. This order would halt the federal government with making the cuts. However, Manning said the upcoming preliminary injunction hearing will be pivotal.
“We do not get the injunction; we’re right back where we were on March 25th with $38 million in cuts. And we will have some serious decisions to make as a state that will undoubtedly impact the people of Delaware.”
Manning said the impacts will drop down all the way to workers. “All folks that our providers had hired to carry out this work are at risk of losing their jobs. That’s personal impacts; it’s not just a matter of oh we can’t run this program today. Or Johnny can’t get his immunization today.”
That hearing set for April 16th.
