Great Lakes Wire

Late yesterday, a significant ruling was issued by Judge Mary S. McElroy at the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. The Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was granted to prevent Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from halting approximately $11 billion in public health grants. Of this, $379.3 million was designated for Michigan. The court's order provides protection for grant funds to 23 plaintiff states as well as the District of Columbia.

Attorney General Nessel expressed concern over this issue, stating, “President Trump and Secretary Kennedy have pledged to ‘Make America Healthy Again,’ while cutting critical support for infectious disease control, substance abuse treatment, vaccination clinics, mental health services, and many more treatments that Americans rely upon for their everyday health and well-being.” Nessel emphasized that the cuts were not only "ill-timed and illegal," but they also contradicted the Department of Health and Human Services' core mission. She appreciated Judge McElroy's timely ruling, noting its positive impact on the lives of Michiganders.

The list of plaintiff states benefiting from the TRO includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, and Maryland. Governors from Kentucky and Pennsylvania participated in the suit, representing their respective states.