20 States Sue Trump Over HHS Job Cuts, Restructuring

A coalition of 20 state attorneys general, led by New York's Letitia James, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The suit challenges the elimination of 20,000 HHS jobs, the consolidation of 28 agencies into 15, the closure of regional offices, and abrupt program cuts, alleging these actions violate the Constitution, Appropriations Clause, and Administrative Procedure Act. Plaintiffs claim these changes have halted disease surveillance, closed labs, reduced support for 9/11 responders, and diminished mental health and maternal care, leaving states to manage health crises without adequate federal support. The Trump administration defends the overhaul as an efficiency measure projected to save $1.8 billion annually. State leaders warn the cuts endanger vulnerable populations and demand immediate restoration of staff and services. The case underscores a major legal and political battle over federal public health infrastructure.