States Fight Cuts to Public Health Grants

Four Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s plan to cut public health grants. The plaintiffs are California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota, and the case was filed on February 11, 2026. HHS notified Congress of an intention to end certain CDC grants that support local work on outbreaks and prevention. The states say the actions were targeted and politically motivated.

Health officials have said these grants fund testing, treatment and tracking for diseases such as H.I.V. and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as vaccination and laboratory systems. While the administration has argued that some pandemic-era funds are no longer necessary, the states say sudden terminations will disrupt planned programs and staff. Although courts have sometimes restored funding in earlier disputes, this suit focuses on termination notices that took effect immediately. Since many awards had multi-year end dates in 2026 or 2027, state agencies had planned multi-year work that now faces uncertainty.

The states are asking a court to block the cuts while litigation proceeds. The legal filings assert that the terminations violated federal law and the Administrative Procedure Act. If the court grants relief, the affected grants can continue to fund local clinics, laboratories and vaccine outreach until the dispute is resolved.