Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times,
A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cutting more than $600 million in public health grants to four Democratic-led states, siding with the states’ argument that the cuts appeared politically motivated.
U.S. District Judge Manish Shah issued a 14-day temporary restrainingorderpreventing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from rescinding the funds allocated to California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota.
The ruling came a day after the statesfileda lawsuit challenging the administration’s directive, with officials in the filing calling it unconstitutional.
The cuts, directed by the White House Office of Management and Budget under Director Russell Vought, mostly go to the Public Health Infrastructure Grant, which funds public health departments to recruit and train workers, improve organizational systems, and modernize data infrastructure.
HHS said in a notice to Congress that the grants are “inconsistent with agency priorities,”according to the filing.
The priorities include modernizing public health infrastructure and not supporting illegal immigration, the lawsuit states.
The states alleged the reductions were retaliation for their policies on immigration, “gender-affirming care for minors,” and other issues opposed by President Donald Trump.
Trump has said that agencies should stop paying sanctuary cities, and the Office of Management and Budget has said that it directed health officials to withdraw the $600 million from the states.
“Starting February 1, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities,”Trumpsaidduring a Jan. 13 speech in Detroit, referencing jurisdictions whose policies prohibit local authorities from cooperating with federal immigration agents.
Source: ZeroHedge News
