Thursday, February 12, 2026-Four Democratic-led states — California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota — have taken urgent legal action against the U.S. administration by filing a federal lawsuit to block the planned termination of more than $600 million in public health funding.
The grants in question are managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and support core services that track disease outbreaks, collect vital health data, and fund programs aimed at preventing HIV and other serious illnesses. State officials argue the cuts are politically motivated and could take effect imminently without court intervention.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Chicago, accuses the administration of exceeding its authority and imposing retroactive conditions on funding already approved by Congress. Attorneys general from the four states say the abrupt withdrawal of these funds threatens essential public health infrastructure and could undermine ongoing efforts to protect communities from infectious diseases and other health risks. They also assert that the administration’s justification for the cuts is rooted in disagreements over unrelated federal policies, making the action unlawful.
The stakes are high: if the funding is lost, local health departments and prevention programs in the affected states could face immediate disruptions. State leaders emphasize the broader implications for public health and are seeking judicial relief to halt the cuts before they go into effect. As litigation unfolds, the case underscores growing tensions between state and federal officials over control of public health resources and priorities.
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