Wisconsin joins 19-state lawsuit against Trump administration's HHS cuts

A coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to block sweeping cuts and restructuring at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The states argue that the layoffs—eliminating over 20,000 employees and consolidating agencies—have gutted essential health programs, including infectious disease tracking, maternal health, substance abuse services, and Head Start early education. Plaintiffs contend these actions exceed executive authority, undermine congressional funding decisions, and jeopardize public health and safety. The restructuring, branded as a bid for government efficiency, has been criticized for disproportionately targeting programs serving vulnerable populations. State attorneys general assert that the cuts force states to manage escalating health crises without adequate federal support. Defenders of the move claim it aims to reduce redundancy and streamline HHS, but opponents warn it puts countless lives at risk and erodes constitutional checks and balances.