Judge Blocks HHS Layoffs, Orders Status Report

A federal judge in Rhode Island, Melissa DuBose, has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from proceeding with the dismissal of over 10,000 employees and the consolidation of 28 agencies into 15. The lawsuit, led by 19 states and the District of Columbia, argued the sweeping layoffs and restructuring would severely disrupt essential public health programs, including those at the CDC and FDA. The judge found the restructuring likely unlawful and 'arbitrary and capricious,' noting the executive branch lacks authority to unilaterally reorganize agencies created by Congress. Plaintiffs demonstrated irreparable harm from lost expertise, interrupted services, and inaccessible data. The court ordered HHS not to proceed with further layoffs or restructuring and to submit a status report by July 11. The judge also requested input on the impact of a recent Supreme Court ruling on universal injunctions.