Judge blocks Trump admin from rescinding health grants to Democratic-led states

"President Donald Trump's administration cannot rescind $600 million in public health grants allocated to four Democratic-led states, for now, a federal judge in Illinois ruled Thursday. California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota sued Wednesday to try to block the planned funding cuts to programs that track disease outbreaks and study health outcomes of LGBTQ+ people and communities of color in major cities. U.S. District Judge Manish Shah stopped the cuts from taking effect for 14 days,"

"That will keep grant money flowing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to state and city health departments and their partner organizations while the challenge proceeds. The first batch of grants could have been pulled Thursday if the judge had not intervened, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said. The Department of Health and Human Services said the grants are being terminated because they do not reflect CDC priorities,"

"Much of the money helped cities fight the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, especially among gay and bisexual men, adolescents and ethnic minorities. Federal health officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the judge's order. Officials in the four states are among Trump's strongest political foes and view the cuts as retaliation for opposing his immigration enforcement crackdown. All have been targets of other federal cuts, including for food assistance programs, child care subsidies and electric vehicle infrastructure."

U.S. District Judge Manish Shah issued a 14-day injunction preventing termination of roughly $600 million in CDC public health grants to California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota. The four states sued to stop planned cuts to programs that track disease outbreaks and study health outcomes of LGBTQ+ people and communities of color. The injunction keeps grant funds flowing to state and city health departments and partner organizations while litigation proceeds. The Department of Health and Human Services cited revised CDC priorities and a shift away from health equity. Much of the funding supported HIV and STI prevention among gay and bisexual men, adolescents and ethnic minorities.

Read at www.npr.org