NJ Sues to Block Federal Restrictions on Access to Key Social Programs

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a multistate legal effort to stop the federal government from enforcing new rules that would restrict access to a wide range of publicly funded health, education, and social services programs. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, challenges recent directives from multiple federal agencies that prohibit these programs from serving individuals who cannot verify their immigration status—a move that state officials say could deny services to citizens, legal residents, and immigrants alike.

The legal action follows a sudden policy shift announced earlier this month by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Education (ED), Labor (DOL), and Justice (DOJ). These agencies jointly reinterpreted the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) to apply new restrictions to federally funded programs. According to the lawsuit, the rules were implemented without public input, adequate notice, or infrastructure to comply—triggering immediate disruptions to programs in New Jersey and across the country.

“The Trump Administration’s attempt to block our residents from accessing Head Start, community health centers, anti-poverty clinics, and other critical programs is as illegal as it is immoral and reckless,” said Attorney General Platkin. “While purporting to stop undocumented immigrants from accessing these programs, this last-minute rule change will prevent American citizens, legal permanent residents, and visa holders from receiving services that are funded by Congress. We look forward to vigorously fighting this unlawful action in court.”

Impact in New Jersey

The new federal rules affect a broad set of services that rely on federal funding, including:

• Head Start and early childhood education

• Community mental health and substance abuse treatment programs

• Adult education and job training services

• Title X family planning clinics

• Community-based health centers and crisis shelters

Under the changes, state agencies and local service providers must now verify the immigration status of all program recipients. This abrupt requirement has left organizations scrambling to comply or risk losing funding. Many of these providers, particularly in the mental health and public health sectors, are not equipped to conduct immigration screenings, and warn that the mandate could lead to service closures, widespread confusion, and the alienation of vulnerable residents.

In practice, even U.S. citizens and lawful immigrants could face barriers if they are unable to provide required documentation, according to state officials. Advocates fear that the new rules will deter families from seeking help, further burdening overstretched systems and undermining public health and community stability.

Legal Arguments and Broader Implications

The lawsuit, filed by a coalition of 21 attorneys general led by New York, Washington, and Rhode Island, claims the federal government:

• Violated the Administrative Procedure Act by bypassing public notice and comment procedures.

• Misapplied PRWORA by extending restrictions designed for individual benefits to entire programs.

• Violated the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution by changing funding conditions without giving states fair warning or an opportunity to opt out.

The coalition seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction to block enforcement of the new rules, to vacate the changes, and to restore the long-standing practice that allowed these programs to serve all residents regardless of immigration status.

Next Steps

The court is being asked to act quickly, as several of the new rules took effect on July 10 and have already begun affecting operations at federally funded service providers. In the meantime, New Jersey officials continue to monitor local impacts, particularly among organizations that deliver education and crisis services to youth, families, and at-risk populations.

Joining New Jersey in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

With New Jersey’s community health infrastructure and education programs potentially facing severe disruptions, Attorney General Platkin emphasized the broader stakes of the case, framing the issue as not just a legal matter but about safeguarding access to essential services for every resident of our state.

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