Judge Blocks HHS Restructuring, Orders July 11 Report

A federal judge in Rhode Island has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration's plan to restructure the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which included mass layoffs, agency consolidations, and regional office closures. Judge Melissa DuBose ruled that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the administration likely exceeded their authority, violated the Administrative Procedure Act, and usurped Congress's powers. The layoffs, affecting up to 20,000 employees and leading to lab closures and disrupted public health services, were deemed arbitrary, capricious, and potentially irreparably harmful. Democratic attorneys general from 19 states and the District of Columbia sued, arguing the changes undermined critical health functions and statutory mandates. The judge ordered HHS to halt further restructuring and submit a compliance report by July 11, while the broader constitutionality of the plan remains unresolved. HHS stated it aimed to increase efficiency and is reviewing the court's decision.