Letitia James Reacts After Judge Blocks Trump Admin from Withholding Funds
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
New York Attorney General Letitia James praised a federal court ruling Friday that temporarily blocks the Trump administration from cutting more than $11 billion in public health funding, calling it a major victory for "the health and well-being of millions of Americans."
"We won a court order blocking the Trump administration from slashing over $11 billion in funding for pandemic preparedness, overdose prevention, and community health programs," James wrote on X, formerly Twitter, shortly after the decision. "We're going to continue our lawsuit to protect the health and well-being of millions of Americans."
Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference at the Office of the New York State Attorney General on February 24, 2025.
Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference at the Office of the New York State Attorney General on February 24, 2025.
Associated Press
The ruling came from U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy in Rhode Island, who granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by 23 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia. The coalition sued the administration on April 1, seeking to immediately halt the proposed cuts, which they argued would decimate public health infrastructure across the country.
The federal money in question was originally allocated by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic and supports a range of services, including vaccination programs, mental health initiatives, and substance abuse prevention. The Biden-era funds have continued under transitional provisions, but the Trump administration sought to wind down the spending as part of its broader push to reduce federal outlays.
Judge McElroy's decision allows the funding to continue while the case proceeds. In court filings, the states argued the cuts would disproportionately impact underserved communities and leave local health departments unprepared for future public health crises.
The administration has not yet commented on the ruling, but officials have previously said the cuts are part of a larger effort to return to pre-pandemic spending levels. The case is expected to continue in the coming months as states push for a permanent injunction.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
This is developing news and will be updated as more information is available.
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