Judge Orders Restoration of Health Grants in 4 Cities

A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction requiring the Trump administration to restore over $11 billion in public health grants to four Democrat-led municipalities in Republican-governed states: Kansas City, Columbus, Nashville, and Harris County (Houston). The funding supports essential services such as vaccination, infectious disease tracking, and public health staffing, and local officials warned the cuts would have led to layoffs and jeopardized critical programs. The administration argued that the conclusion of the COVID-19 emergency justified rescinding the grants, while plaintiffs maintained that congressional approval was not tied to the pandemic's status. The lawsuit, joined by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, alleges violations of both congressional authority and Department of Health and Human Services regulations. The injunction is limited to the four municipalities named in the suit, and while the case proceeds, the federal government is considering an appeal. Local officials have praised the ruling as vital for safeguarding public health.